FORTHE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY THE I B I S QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY, EDITED BY PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., SKCRETARY TO THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LOXDOfT, AND HOWARD SAUNDERS, F.L.S., F.Z.S. VOL. IV. 1898. SEVENTH SERIES. Non moriar, sed vivam, et narrabo opera Domini. LONDON: GURNEY AND JACKSON, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW (Successors to J. VAN VOORST.) 1898. PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET. PREFACE. On bringing to a conclusion the fourth volume of the Seventh Series of ' The Ibis,' the Editors wish to record their thankfulness for the unflagging support that they continue to receive from their friends and correspondents in all parts of the world. The present volume is above the average in size, and several valuable articles already received must neces- sarily stand over until the next number. A great ornithological event of the year 1898 will be the completion of the * Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum,' the only descriptive account of the whole Class of Birds accomplished since the days of Latham. The twenty-sixth volume (the only one required to close the long series) is, we are informed, actually in type, and will be ready for issue soon after the present number of ' The Ibis ' is in the hands of our readers. It is well that in this, PREFACE. as in other branches of Natural Science, our country should take the leavi in work wliich is for the in- formation and advantage of the >Yhole civilized world, and could only have been accomplished by the hard and patient labour of many years. P. L. S. H. S. 3 Hanover Square, October 1 St, 1898. BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION. 1898. [An asterisk indicates an Original Member. It is particularly requested that Members will give notice to the Secretary of the Union, 3 Hanover ISquai-e, London, W., of any error in their addresses or descriptions in this List, iu order that it may be immediately corrected.] Date of Election. 1896. Alexander, Boyd ; Swifts Place, Cranbrook, Kent. 18U3. Anne, Major Ernesx L. S. ; 21 Victoria Square, Newcastle- on-Tyne. 1888. Aplin, Oliver Vernon ; Bloxham, Banbury, Oxou. 1896. Archibald, Charles F. ; 9 Cardigan Road, Headingley, Leeds. 5 1897. AsTLKY, The Rev. Hubert Dklaval, F.Z.S. ; Chequers Court, Tring. 1885. BACKUoirsE, James, F.Z.S. ; Daleside, Harrogate. 1892. Baker, E. C. Stuart; District Superintendent of Police, Hafflong, North Cachar, Assam, India ; care of Messrs. H. S. King & Co., 65 Cornhill, E.C. 1889. Balston, Richard James, F.Z.S. ; Springfield, Maidstone. 1890. Barclay, Francis Hubert ; Knott's Green, Leyton, Essex. 10 1872. Barclay, Colonel Hanbury, F.Z.S.; Tingrith Manor, Woburn, Bedfordshire. 1885. Barclay, Col, Hugh G. ; Colney Hall, Norwich. 1889. Barrett-Hamilton, Gerald E. H., F.Z.S. ; Kildare Street Club, Dublin, and Savoy Mansions, Savoy Street, Strand, W.C. 1881. Barrington, Richard Manliffe, LL.B. ; Fassaroe, Bray, co. Wicldow. 1884, Bfddard, Frank E., M.A., F.R.S., F.Z.S., Prosector to the Zoological Society of London ; Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park, N.W. 15 1897. Benson, John; The Post Office, Vancouver, B.C. 1897. Berry, William, B.A., LL.B. ; Tayfield, Newport, Fifcshire. 1880. BiDWELL, Edward ; 1 Trig Lane, Upper Thames Street, E.C. 1881. Bingham, Lt.-Col. Charles T. (Indian Staff Corps), F.Z.S. ; care of Messrs. H. S. King & Co., 65 Cornhill, E.C. Date of Election. 1892. Bird, llev. Maurice C. H., M.A, ; Brunstead Eectory, Stalham, Norfolk. 20 1891. Blaatjw, F. E., C.M.Z.S. ; Gooilust, 'sGraveland, Noord- HoUand. 1893. Blagg, Ernest W. H. ; Greenhill, Cheadle, Staffordshire. 1898. Bland, Ivers ; Newbold Firs, Leamington. 1873. Blanford, William T., F.E.S., F.Z.S. ; 72 Bedford Gardens, Kensington, W. 1897. Bligh, Hon. Ivo Francis; Southfields Grange, Wandsworth, S.W., and Union Club, Trafalgar Square, W.C. 25 1893. BoLAM, George, F.Z.S. ; The Mead, Beal, R.S.O., Northumber- land. 1897. BoNAR, liev. Horatitjs Ninian ; Free Church Manse, Salton, Pencaitland, East Lothian, N.B. 1894. BoNHOTE, John Lewis ; 68 Lexham Gardens, Kensington, W. 1898. Booth, George Albert ; Phoenix Iron Works, Derby Street, Preston, and Fern Hill, Grange-over-sands, Lanes. 1878. BoRRER, William, M.A., F.L.S. ; Cowfold, Horsham. 30 1895. Bradford, Dr. J. Kose, F.R.S. ; 60 Wimpole Street, W. 1885. Brockholes, William F. ; Claughton-on-Brock, Garstang, Lancashire. 1890. Brooke, Harry Brinsley; 33 Egerton Gardens, Kensington,W. 1892, Brooks, W. Edwin ; Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada. 1897. Bryden, Henry A. ; Gore Park lload, Eastbourne. 35 1868. Buckley, Thomas Edward, B.A., F.Z.S.; Rossal, Inverness, N.B. 1895. Bulgaria, H.R.H. Ferdinand, Pi-ince of; Sophia, Bulgaria. 1872. BuLLER,Sir Walter Lawry,K.C.M.G.,Sc.D.,F.B.S., C.M.Z.S.; 122 Tinakori Road, Wellington, New Zealand. 1884. Butler, Lieut.-Col. E.A.; Brettenham Park, Ipswich, Suffolk. 1896. Butterfield, W. C. J. Euskin ; 3 Stainsby Street, St. Leonards-on-Sea. 40 1881. Buxton, Geoffrey Fowell ; Dunston Hall, Norwich. 1895. Buxton, S. Gurney, F.Z.S. ; Catton Hall, Norwich. 1896. Cade, Francis J. ; Teighmore, Cheltenham. 1889. Cameron, Eaven Somerled, F.Z.S. ; Terry, Montana, U.S.A. 1896. Cameron, James S. ; 1st Bn. Royal Sussex Regt. ; and Low Wood, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. 45 1888. Cameron, John Duncan ; Low Wood, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. Date of Election. 1892. Campbell, Chaeles William, C.M.Z.S. ; H.B.M. Chinese Consular Service ; British Legation, Peking, China. 1888. Carter, James; Burton House, Masham, Yorkshire. 1890. Cave, Charles John Philip, F.Z.S. ; Ditcham Park, Peters- field. 1888. Chamberlain, Walter, P.Z.S. ; Harborne Hall, Harborne, near Birmingham. 50 1894. Chance, A. Macomb, Jun., B.A. ; Lawnside, Edgbaston, Birmingham. 1884. Chapman, Abel; 6 The Avenue, Sunderland. 1882. Chase, Robert William ; Southville, Priory Road, Edgbas- ton, Birmingham, 1897. Cholmley, Alfred John, F.Z.S. ; Place Newton, Rillington, Yorkshire. 1889. Clarke, Stephenson Robert, F.Z.S.; Borde Hill, Cuckfield, Sussex. 55 1880. Clarke, William Eagle, F.L.S. ; Museum of Science and Art, Edinburgh. 1898. Cocks, Alfred Heneage, F.Z.S. ; Thames Bank, Great Marlow, Bucks. 1898. Coke, Hon. Richard ; Scots Guards, Wellington Barracks, S.W. 1895. Coles, Richard Edavard ; Oakfield, Milton, Lymington. 1880. Cooper, Lieut.-Col. E. H., F.Z.S. ; 42 Portman Square, W. 60 1874. Cordeaitx, John, J.P. ; Great Cotes, R.S.O., Lincoln. 1888. Co rdeaux, Captain William Wilfrid; 21st Lancers. 1882. Cory, Charles B., F.Z.S. ; Third National Bank, State Street, Boston, Mass., U.S.A. 1892. Courage, Harold Mitchell ; Snowdenham, Bramley, Guild- ford. 1896. CowiB, Capt. Alexander Hugh, R.E. ; care of H. Ward, Esq., Yeatton, Lymington, Hants. 65 1896. Crawford, Francis C; 19 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh. 1894. Crewe, Sir Vauncey Harpur, Bt. ; Calke Abbey, Derbyshire. 1896. Crockett, Samuel Rutherford ; Bank House, Penicuik, Midlothian, 1895. Crossley, Sir Savile B., Bt., F.Z.S. ; Somerleyton, Lowestoft, and 12 Carlton-House Terrace, S.W. 1898. Grossman, Alan F. ; St. Cuthbert's, Berkhamsted, Herts. 70 1882. Crowley, Philip, F.Z.S. ; Waddon House, Waddon, Croydon. Date of Election. 1898. Crowlet, REGiJiTALD Alwtn ; Highfield, Alton, Hants, and 22 High Street, Croydon. 1877. Dalgleish, Johk J. ; Brankston Grange, Bogsido Station, Stirling, N.B. 1898. Daletmple, Hon. John James; Scots Guards, Wellington Barracks, S.W. 1896. Danford, Berteam W. Y., E..E. ; Bermuda. 75 1874. Danford, Charles G., F.Z.S. ; Hatszeg, Siebenbiirgen, Hungary, and Conservative Club, St. James's Street, S.W. 1883. Davidson, James ; Karwar, "Kanara, Bombay, and 32 Drum- sheugh Gardens, Edinburgh. 1891. De A"is, Charles W. ; Queensland Museum, Brisbane, and care of B. Quaritch, 15 Piccadilly, W. 1893. De WiNTON, W. E. : Graftonbury, Hereford, and 59 Charlotte Street, Portland Place, W. 1896. Degli Oddi, Count Ettore Arrigoni, Professor of Zoology, the University, Padua; and Ca' oddo, Monselice, Padua, Italy. 8o 1896. DoBBiE, James B., P.Z.S., 2 Hailes Street, Edinburgh. 1889. DoBiE, William Henry, M.R.C.S. ; 22 Upper Northgate Street, Chester. 1883. DoiG, ScROPE B. ; Public Works Department, Bombay. 1895. Donovan, Surgeon-Capt. Charles, I. M.S., Civil Surgeon ; Mangalore, South Canara, India. 1865. Dresser, Henry Eeles, E.L.S., F.Z.S. ; Topclyffe Grange, Farnborough, Beckenham, Kent, and 110 Cannon Street, E.C. 85 1896. Drewitt, Dr. Frederick D. ; 2 Manchester Square, W. 1890. Drummond-Hay, Capt. James A. G. (Coldstream Guards) ; Seggieden, Perth, N.B. 1878. Durnfokd, W. Arthur, J.P. ; Elsecar, Barnsley. 1896. DuTHiE, Lt.-Col. W. H. M. ; Row, Doune, Perthshire. 1870. Elliot, Daniel Giraud, F.Il.S.E., F.Z.S. ; Field Columbian Museum, Chicago, U.S.A. 90 1895. Elliot, Edmdnd A. S., M.B.C.S. ; Woodville, Ivingsbridge, South Devon. 1884. Elliott, Algernon, Judicial Commissioner, Amraoti Camp, Berar, H.A.D., India. Date of Election. 1 866. Elwes, Henry John, F.Z.S. ; Colesborne, Aiidoversford, R.S.O., Gloucestershire. 1895. Erlanger, Freiherr Carlo von ; Nieder lugelheim, Kheiu Hessen, Germany. 1879. Evans, Arthur Humble, M.A., F.Z.S. ; 9 Harvey Road, Cam- bridge. 95 1888. Evans, William, F.R.S.E.; 38 Moriiingside Park, Edinburgh. 1892. Fairbridgb, William George; 133 Long Market Street, Capetown, South Africa, 1895. Falconer, John J. M. ; Magdalene College, Cambridge. 1891. Farquhar, Capt. Arthur M., li.N. ; Granville Lodge, Aboyne, N.B. 1898. Farquhar, Lieut. Stuart St. J., R.K. ; H.M.S. 'Eclipse,' East India Station, loo 1873. Feilden, Col. Henrx Wemyss, C.M.Z.S.; West House, Wells, Korfolk, and Junior United Service Club, S.W. 1897. Fenwick, Edward Nicholas Fenwick ; Oxford and Cambridge Club, Pall Mall, S.W. 1886. Ferguson, Lieut. Harold Stuart, Nair Brigade; Trcvandrum, Travancorc. 1892. Finn, Frank, B.A., F.Z.S. ; Indian Museum, Calcutta. 1890. Fisher, Lion KL ; Ivandy, Ceylon. 105 1884. Forbes, Hkney Ogg, LL.D., F.Z.S. ; Free Public Museums, Liverpool. 1808. Foster, George E. ; Brooklands, Cambridge. 1880. Foster, William ; Braeside, The Heath, Weybridge. 1887. Fowler, AVilliam Warde, M.A. ; Lincoln College, Gxford. 1865. Fox, Rev. Henry Elliott, M.A. ; Fairview, Kingston Hill, Surrey. no 1881. Freke, Percy Evans; Step House, Borris, co. Carlow. 1895. Frohaavk, Frederick William ; 34 Widmore Road, Bromley, Kent. 1881. Gadow, Hans, Ph.D., F.Z.S.; University Zoological Museum, Cambridge. 1886, Gainsborough, Charles William Francis, Earl of; Exton Park, Oakham. 1892. Gerrard, John ; Govcrumcnt Inspector of Mines ; Worsley, Manchester. 115 1879. Gibson, Ernest ; care of Thos. Gibson, Esq., 1 Eglinton Court, Edinburgh. Date of Eleotion. * 1858. GoDMAN, Fkederick DuCane, r.li.S., F.Z.S. ; 10 Cbandos Street, Cavendish Square, W. President. * 1858. GoDMAN, Percy Sanden, B.A., C.M.Z.S. ; Muntham, Horsham. 1874. Godwin-Atjsten, Lieut. -Col. Henry Haversham, F.ll.S., F.Z.S. ; Shalford Park, Guildford. 1884. GooBCHiLD, John G., F.Z.S. ; Museum of Science and Art, Edinburgh. I20 1895. Grabham, Oxley, M.A. ; The Chestnuts, Heworth, Yorks. 1890. Grant, William R. Ogilvie ; 26 Hereford Square, S.W. 1885. GuiLLEMAED, F. H. H., M.A., M.D., F.Z.S. ; Old Mill House, Trumpington, Cambridge. 1876. GiiNTHER, Albert C. L. G., M.A., M.D., F.R.S., F.Z.S.; 2 Lichfield Road, Kew Gardens, S.W. 1898. Gueney, Lieut. Anthony Francis, R.N. ; North Runcton Hall, King's Lynn, and H.M.S. ' Widgeon,' Cape of Good Hope Station. 125 1870. Gurney, John Henry, F.Z.S.; Keswick Hall, Norwich, and Athenajum Club, Pall Mall, S.W. 1897. Gurney, J. Nigel ; Sprowston Hall, Norwich. 1896. Gurney, Robert ; Sprowston Hall, Norwich. 1890. GwATKiN, Joshua Reynolds Gascoign ; Manor House, Potterne, Devizes. 1891. Haigh, George Henry Caton ; Grainsby Hall, Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire. 130 1898. Haines, Charles Reginald, M.A. ; Meadhurst, Uppingham, Rutland. 1887. Haines, John Pleydell Wilton ; The Lodge, Gloucester. 1898. Hale, Rev. James Rashleigh, B.A. ; Yalding, Kent. 1886. Hamilton, Edward, M.D., F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; 16 Cromwell Place, S.W. 1883. Harcourt, Lewis Vernon ; Mai wood, Lyndhurst, Hants. '35 1893. Hartert, Ernst; The Museum, Tring, Herts. 1868. Harting, James Edmund, F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; Linnean Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W. 1896. Ha ETL and, John Coles; c/o Messrs. Hunt & Co., P.O. Box 11, Yokohama, Japan. 1893. Hartmann, William ; Tangley Mere, Chilworth, Surrey. 1873. Harvie-Brown, John A., F.Z.S. ; Dunipace House, Larbcrt, N.B. Date of Election. 140 1898. Hawker, IIichard M. ; l^ath Club, Dover Street, W. 1887. Hebbert, Charles T,, F.Z.S. ; The Khodrons, Hook, Kingston- on-Thames. 1897. Hewetson, Henry Bendelack, F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; 11 Hanover Square, Leeds. 1895. HiNXMAN, Lionel W., B.A. ; Geological Survey of Scotland, Edinburgh. 1884. Holds WORTH, Charles James, J. P. ; Kendal, Westmorland, 145 1877. HoLBSwoRTH, Edmund W. H., F.Z.S.; South Town, Dart- mouth, Devon. 1891. Holland, Arthur H. ; Estancia Sta. Elena, Halsey, F. C. 0., Argentine Eepublic, and Holmhurst, Copse Hill, "Wim- bledon, S.W. 1888. Horsfield, Herbert Knight ; Ivy Lodge, Chapel Allerton, Leeds. 1893. Hose, Charles, F.Z.S.; Baram, Sarawak, Borneo. 1895. Howard, Henry Eliot ; Stone House, Kidderminster. 150 1881. Howard, Robert James; Hawkhurst, Blackburn, Lanca- shire. * 1858. HuDLESTON, Wilfrid Hudleston, M.A., F.R.S., F.Z.S. ; 8 Stanhope Gardens, S.W. 1893. Hudson, William Henry, F.Z.S. ; Tower House, St. Luke's Road, Westbourne Park, W. 1869. Hume, Allan Octavian, C.B., C.S.I., F.Z.S.; The Chalet, Kingswood Road, Upper Norwood, S.E. 1890. Hunter, Henry Charles Vicars ; Mawley Hall, Cleobury Mortimer, Salop. 155 1870. Hylton, Hedwokth Hylton, Lord, F.Z.S. ; Merstham House, Red Hill, Surrey. 1870. Irby, Lieut.-Col. Leonard Howard L., F.Z.S. ; 14 Cornwall Terrace, Regent's Park, N.W. 1888. Jackson, Frederick J., F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; The Red House, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, 1892. James, Henry Ash WORTH : 11 Oxford Square, Hyde Park, W. 1896. Jesse, William ; La Martiniere College, Lucknow, Oudh, India. 160 1889, Johnson, Frederick Ponsonby; Castlesteads, Brampton, Cumberland. 1891. Johnston, Sir Harry Hamilton, K.C.B., F.Z.S,; H.B.M.'s Consul-General, Tunis, North Africa. Date of Election. 1880. Kelham, Major Henry IIoiseux (1st lin. Highland Light Infaiitrj') ; 2 Salisbury Iload, Hove, Brighton. 1894. Kelsall, Capt. Harry JosEru, 11. A. ; Eangoon. 1897. Kelsall, Eev. John Edward, M.A. ; Milton llcctory, Lymington, Hants. 165 1882. Kermode, Philip M. C; Hillside, llamsay, Isle of Man. 1891. Kerr, J. Graham; Christ's College, Cambridge. 1895. KiNGSEORD, William Edward ; Maybury Eoad,Woking, Surrey. 1882. Knubley, Eev. Edw. Ponsonby, M.A. ; Steeple Ashton Vicarage, Trowbridge. 1892. Laidlaw, Thomas Geddes ; Eank of Scotland, Morningside Branch, Edinburgh, and 8 Morningside Eoad, Edinburgh. 170 1881. Langton, Herbert; 11 Marlborough Place, Brighton. 1881. Lascelles, Hon. Gerald; Queen's House, Lyndhurst. 1892. La Touche, John David Digties ; Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, Foochow, China. 1892. Laws, Arthur Moore ; Buluwayo Engineering and Wagon Works, Buluwayo, Matabeleland, South Africa. 1898. Learoxd, a. Ernest; Eawthorpe Hall, Huddersfield. 175 1870. Legge, Col. AVilliam Vincent (late E. A.), F.Z.S.; CuUcnswood House, St. Mary's, Tasmania. 1898. Le Sodef, Dudley; Zoological and Acclimatisation Society, Zoological Gardens, Melbourne. 1868. Le Strange, Hamon, F.Z.S. ; Hunstanton Hall, King's Lynn, Norfolk. 1875. L'EsTRANGE, Col. Paget Walter, E.A. ; Llwynbedw, Bon- caih, E.S.O., South Wales. 1893. Lewis, Eredericb: ; Assistant Conservator of Eorests, c/o The Forest Department, Colombo, Cejdon. 180 1889. Leyland, Christopher John; Haggerston Castle, Beal, Northumberland. 1897. LiLEORD, John, Lord, F.Z.S. ; Lilford Hall, Oundle, North ants. 1874. Lloyd, Col. John Hayes, F.Z.S. ; 95 Adelaide Eoad, N.W. 1898. Loat, William Leonard S., F.Z.S.; Newland, Coleford, Gloucestershire. 1897. Lodge, George Edward, F.Z.S. ; 5 Verulam Buildings, Gray's Inn, W.C. 185 1889. LoYD, Major Arthur Purvis, F.Z.S. (late 21st Hussars); Haruham Cliff, Salisburj-. XlU Date of Election. 1896. Lubbock, Percy ; 20 Cadogan Gardens, 8.\V. 1877. LuMSDEN, James, P.Z.S. ; Arden House, Alexandria, N.B. 1896. LtTTTMAN- Johnson, James Arthur, M.A. ; 101 Mount Street, \V. 1897. McLean, John Chambers ; Waikohu Station, Te Karaka, Gisborne, New Zealand. 190 18l)4. Macpherson, Arthur Holte ; 51 Gloucester Terrace, Hyde Park, W. 1886. Macpherson, Rev. Hugh Alexander, M.A. ; Allonby Vicarage, Maryport, Cumberland. 1875. Malcolm of PoltaUoch, John Wingfield, Lord, C.B., F.Z.S. ; Poltalloch, Lochgilphead, Argyllshire, and 23 Great Cumberland Place, W. 1894. Marshall, Archibald McLean ; Ard's Place, Aberlady, Long- niddry, N.B., and 29 Queen's Gate Gardens, S.W. 1894. Marshall, James McLean ; Ard's Place, Aberlady, Long- niddry, N.B. 1 95 1897. Mason, Col. Edward Snow ; 20 Minster Yard, Lincoln. 1898. Masset, Herbert ; Ivy Lea, Burnage, Didsbury, Manchester. 1878. Mathew, Eev. Murray A., M.A., F.L.S. ; Bucklaud Diiiham, Frome, Somersetshire. 1898. Maxwell, Aymer Edward ; Grenadier Guards, Chelsea Barracks, S.W. 1896. Maxatell, Rt. Hon. Sir Herbert E., Bt., M.P., F.R.S. ; 49 Lennox Gardens, S.AV. 200 1883. Meade-Waldo, Edmund Gustavus Bloomfield, F.Z.S. ; Stonewall Park, Edenbridge, Kent. 1880. Millais, John Guille, F.Z.S. ; Melwood, Horsham. 1879. Mitchell, Frederick Shaw; Clyderhowe, Edmonton, Alberta, N.W.T., Canada. 1897. Mitchell, William ; 10 Grosvenor Street, W. 1892. MivART, St. George, Ph.D., M.D., F.R.S. ; 77 Inverness Terrace, W., and Oriental Club, Hanover Square, W. 205 1890. Monk, Thomas James; St. Anne's, Lewes, Sussex. 1898. Monro, Horace Cecil : Queen Anne's Mansions, Queen Anne's Gate, S.W. 1886. MuiRHEAD, George, F.Z.S.; Mains of Haddo, Aberdeen. 1893. Mullens, AViLLi AM H., M.A., F.Z.S.; 9 St. James's Place, S.W. 1892. MuNN, Philip Winchester ; Laverstoke, Whitchurch, Hants. 210 1897. MuNT, Henry ; 83 Kensington Gardens Square, W. 1885. Neale, Edward ; 43 Charlotte Street, Portland Place, W. XIV Date of Election. 1882. Nelson, Thomas Hudson ; The Cliffe, licdcar, Yorkshire. 1895, Nesham, Robert ; Utrecht House, Queen's lload, Clapharu Park, S.W. 1897. Neumann, Oscar ; 10 Potsdamer Strasse, Berlin, W. 215 1898. Newall, Arthur ; "Wilsford House, Salisbiiry. 1872. Newcome, Francis D'Arcy William Clough ; Feltwell Hall, Brandon, Suffolk. * 18.58. Newton, Alfred, M.A., F.R.S., F.Z.S., Professor of Zoology in the University of Cambridge ; Magdalene College, Cam- bridge. 1886. Nicholls, Howard Hill John, M.R.C.8. ; 1 Hardwick Eoad, Eastbourne. 1876. Nicholson, Francis, F.Z.S.; 84 Major Street, Manchester, and Heathside, Ivnutsford, Cheshire. 220 1895. Noble, Heatley; Temple Combe, Henley-on-Thames. 1887. Norman, George Cameron, F.Z.S. ; 68 Lombard Street E.C., and Bredon's Norton, Tewkesbury. 1882. Oates, Eugene William, F.Z.S. ; 1 Carlton Gardens, Ealing (Broadway), W. Secretary and Treasurer. 1892. Ogilvie, Fergus Menteith, M.A., F.Z.S. ; 5 Evelyn Mansions, Carlisle Place, Victoria Street, S.W. 1889, Ogle, Bertram Savile ; Hill House, Steeple Aston, Oxford. 225 1883. Parker, Henry, C.E., F.Z.S., Irrigation Officer, P.W.D. ; Kurunegala, Ceylon. 1880. Parkin, Thomas, M.A., F.Z.S. ; Fairseat, High Wickham, Hastings. 1891. Patterson, Robert, F.Z.S. ; Malone Park, Belfast. 1884. Patterson, R. Lloyd, F.L.S. ; Croft House, Holywood, co. Down. 1894. Pearson, Charles Edward ; Chilwell House, near Nottingham. 230 1891. Pearson, Henry J. ; Bramcote, Notts. 1898. Penn, Eric Frank ; Taverham Hall, Norwich. 1891. Penrose, Frank, M.D. ; 84 Wimpole Street, W. 1886. Phillips, E. Lort, F.Z.S. ; 79 Cadogan Square, S.W. 1888. Phillips, George Thorne ; Wokingham, Berkshire. 235 1893. Pigott, Thomas Digby, C.B. ; 5 Ovington Gardens, S.W. 1893. Pike, Thomas Mayer, M.A. ; care of Mr. Porter, 7 Prince's Street, Cavendish Square, W. 1896. Popham, Hugh Leyborne, M.A. ; Woodend, Bournemouth, and Oxford & Cambridge Club, Pall Mall, S.W. Date of Election. 1898. Price, Athelstan E. ; Broxbourne, Herts. 1893. PrcRAFT, William Plane ; British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, S.W. 240 1888. Radclyffe, Charles Robert Eustace ; Hyde, Warehani, Dorset. 1879. Rawson, Herbert Etelyn, P.Z.S. ; Eallbarrow, Windermere, 1894. Read, Richard Henry, L.R.C.P., M.R.C.8. ; Church Street, Hanley. 1888. Read, Robert H. ; 7 South Parade, Bedford Park, W. 1877. REiD,Capt.SATiLE G. (late R.E.), F.Z.S.; The Elms, Yalding, Maidstone. 245 1893. Rendall, Percy, M.D., F.Z.S. ; Ewell, Surrey, and Devon- shire Club, St. James's Street, S.W. 1895. RiCKETT, Charles Boughey ; Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, Foochow ; care of H. S. King & Co. 1898. Riddell, Edward Mitford H. ; 9 Minster Yard, Lincoln. 1896. RippON, Major George ; 29th Madras Infantry, Fort Stedman, Burma. 1898. Robinson, Herbert C. ; Holmwood, Aigburth, Liverpool. 250 1896. Rogers, Capt. J. Middleton, F.Z.S. ; 1st (Royal) Dragoons, and Riverhill, Sevenoaks, Kent. 1893. Rothschild, The Hon. L. Walter, F.Z.S.; The Museum, Tring, Herts. 1894. Rothschild, The Hon. N. Chaeles, F.Z.S. ; Tring Park, Tring, Herts. 1883. St. Quintin, William Herbert, F.Z.S. ; Scampston Hall, Rillington, Yorkshire. 1870. Saunders, Howard, F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; 7 Radnor Place, Hyde Park, W. ' Editor Ibis.' 255 1898. Scherken, Henry; 9 Cavendish Road, Harringaj^ N. * 1858. Sclater, Philip Lutley, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., Secretary to the Zoological Society of London, 3 Hanover Square, W., and Odiham Priory, Winchfield. Editor ^IhisJ 1891. Sclater, William Lutley, M.A., F.Z.S. ; South African Museum, Capetown, South Africa. 1889. Senhouse, Humphrey Patricius, B.A. ; The Fitz, Cocker- mouth, Cumberland. 1871. Sharpe, Richard Bowdler, LL.D., F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; Senior Assistant, Zoological Department, British Museum (Natural History), South Kensington, S.W. Date of Election. 260 1870. Shelley, Capt. G. Ernest, F.Z.S. (late Grenadier Guards) ; Tower House, Reigate, Surrey. 1865. SnEPHERD, Rev. Charles William, M.A., F.Z.S. ; Trotters- clitfe Rectory, Maidstone, Kent. 1894. Shirley, Sewallis Evelyn ; Etiington Park, Stratford-on- Avon. 1881. SiMSON, Francis Bruce, F.Z.S.: Broom Hill, Spratton, JSTorth- ampton. 1882. Slater, Rev. Henry H., M.A., F.Z.S. ; Thoruhaugh Rectory, "Wansford, Northants. 2O5 1864. Smith, Rev. Alfred Charles, M.A.; Old Park, Devizes, Wilts. 1896. Sondes, Earl ; Lees Court, Favershara. 1881. Southwell, Thomas, F.Z.S. ; 10 Tlie Crescent, Chapel Field, Norwich. 1893. Stanley, Samuel S. ; 3 Regent Grove, Leamington, Warwick- shire. 1875. Stark, Arthur Cowell, M.B. & CM. (Edin.), F. 11. Phys. Soc. (Edin.) ; Eccleston, Torquay, and Bertram House, Capetown, South Africa. 270 1898. Stirling, William, J. P., D.L. Co. Ross ; Monar, Ross, and Kinellan Lodge, Strathpeffer, N.B. 1889. SroATE, William ; Ashleigh, Burnham, Somerset. 1893. Stonham, Charles, F.R.C.S., F.Z.S. ; 4 Harley Street, Cavendish Square, W. 1897. Streatfeild, Capt. Eric ; 2nd Gordon Highlanders, Aldcrshot. 1881. Studdy, Col. Robert Wri&ht (late Manchester Regiment); Longcause, Totnes, Devon. 275 1887. Styan, Frederick William, F.Z.S. : Ben Craig, Bayham Road, Sevenoaks, and Shanghai, China. 1887. Swinburne, John ; Carlton Lodge, Catel, Guernsey. 1882. SwiNHOE, Col. Charles (Indian Staff Corps), M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; Avenue House, Cowley Road, Oxford. 1884. Tait, William Chaster, C.M.Z.S. ; Entre Quintas 155, Oporto, Portugal. * 1858. Taylor, Edward Cavendish, M.A. , F.Z.S. ; 74 Jermyn Street, S.W. 280 1873. Tegetmeier, William Bernhard, F.Z.S. ; 16 Alexandra Grove, North Fiuchley, N, 1889. Tennant, Edward Priaulx ; 40 Grosvenor Square, W., and The Glen, Innerleithen, N.B. Date of Election. 1886. Terry, Major Horace A. (late Oxfordshire Light Infantry) ; The Lodge, Upper Halliford, Shepperton. 1891. Thornhill, William Blundell ; Castle Cosey, Castle Belling- ham, Ireland. 1893. Thorpe, Dixon L. ; Loshville, Etterby Scaur, Carlisle. 285 1894. TiCEHURST, Norman Frederic ; Guy's Hospital, S.E. 1893. Trevor-Battye, Aubyn B. R., F.Z.S.; 2 Whitehall Gardens, S.W. * 1858. Tristram, Rev. Henry Baker, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., C.M.Z.S., Canon of Durham ; The College, Durham. 1864. Upcher, Henry Morris, F.Z.S. ; East Hall, Feltwell, Brandon, Norfolk. 1896. Urwick, William F. ; 27 Bramham Gardens, S.W. 290 1894. UssHER, Richard John ; Cappagh House, Cappagh, R.S.O., Lismore, Ireland. 1890. Venoitr, Stephen ; Fern Bank, Altrincham, Cheshire. 1884. Verey, Alfred SAiNSBtTRY; Heronsgate, near Ilickmansworth. 1881. Verner, Lt.-Col. William Willoitghby Cole (2nd Bn. Rifle Brigade) ; Royal Military College, Cambeiiey, Surrey, and Junior United Service Club, S.W. 1886. Wade-Dalton, Col. H. D. ; Hauxwell Hall, Finghall, R.S.O., Yorkshire. 295 1895. Wallis, Henry Marriage ; 6 Southern Hill, Reading. 1881. Walsingham, Thomas, Lord, F.R.S., F.Z.S. ; Merton Hall, Thetford, Norfolk. 1872. Wardlaw-Ramsa Y, Lt.-Col. R. G., F.Z.S. ; Whitehill, Rosewell, Midlothian, N.B. 1896. Watkins, Watkin ; Highfield, Harrow, and Wellington Club, S.W. 1891. Whitaker, Benjamin Ingham ; Hesley Hall, Tickhill, Rother- ham. 300 1884. Whitaker, .Joseph, F.Z.S. ; Rainworth Lodge, Mansfield, Notts. 1891. Whitaker, Joseph I. S. ; Malfitauo, Palermo, Sicily. 1887. Whitehead, Jeffery ; Newstead, Wimbledon, Surrey. 1897. Whymper, Charles ; 7 James Street, Haymarket, S.W. 1898. WiGLESWORTH, Joseph, M.D.; County Asylum, Rainhill, Lanes. 305 1894. Wilkinson, Johnson ; Vermont, Huddersfield, Yorkshire. 1896. Williams, Lionel A. ; Llangurran, Salisbury ; 25 Duke Street, St. James's, S.W., and Isthmian Club, Piccadilly, W. SER. VII. VOL. IV. b Pate of Election . 1897. Wilson, Allan Reid ; Wadham College, Oxford, and East- hill, East Bank Road, Sheffield. 1888. Wilson, Charles Joseph; 16 Gordon Square, W.C. 1887. Wilson, Sooxx Barchard, F.Z.S. ; Heatherbank, Weybridge Heath, Surrey. 310 1897. WixHERBT, Harry F. ; Heathfield, Eliot Place, Blackhcath, S.E. 1891. WixHiNGXON, Frank. 1875. Wrighx, Charles A., F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; Kaj^hough, Kew- Gardens Road, Kew, S.W. 1871. Wrighx, E.Perceval, M.D., F.L.S., F.Z.S., Professor of Botany in the University of Dublin. 1891. Wrighx, Thomas, M,D. ; Castle Place, Nottingham. 315 1876. Wyaxx, Claude W. ; Adderbury, Banbury. 1895. Yerbury, Lt.-Col. John William, R.A., F.Z.S. ; Army and Navy Club, S.W. 1889. YoiTNG, Capt. James B., R.N. ; Ridgway House, Ottery St. Mary, Devon. 1878. YoiJNG, John, F.L.S., F.Z.S.; 64 Hereford Road, Bayswater. 1897. Young, John Joseph Baldwin, M.A. ; Richmond Park, near Sheffield. Extra- Ordinary Member. 1860. Wallace, Alfred Russel, F.R.S., F.Z.S. ; Corfe View, Parkstone, Dorset. Honorary Members. 1886. Ayres, Thomas ; Potchefstroom, Transvaal, 1 890. Berlepsch, Graf Hans von, C.M.Z.S. ; Schloss Berlepsch, Post Gertenbach, Witzenhausen, Germany. 1860. Cabanis, Dr. Jean, C.M.Z.S., Friedrichshagen, bei Berlin. 1870, FiNSCH, Dr, Oxxo, C.M.Z.S. ; Zool. Rijks Museum, Leiden. 5 1894. GiGLioLi, Dr, Henry Hillyer, F,M.Z.S, ; Reale Istituto di Studi Superiori, Florence, 1898. Goeldi, Dr. Emil A,, C.M.Z.S.; Director of the Museu Paraense, Para, Brazil. 1860, Harxlaub, Dr. Gusiav, F.M.Z.S. ; Bremen. 1800. Layard, Edgar Leopold, C.M.G,, F.Z.S., Otterbourne, Bud- leigh Saltertou, Devonshire, Date of Election. 1893. Reichenow, Dr. Antoij, C.M.Z.S. ; Museum fiir Naturkunde, Invalidenstrasse, Berlin, lo 1890. Salvadori, Count ToMMASo, M.D., F.M.Z.B. ; Royal Zoological Museum, Turin. Foreign Members. 1890, Allen, Joel Asaph, Ph.D., C.M.Z.S. ; American Museum of Natural History, Central Park, New York City, U.S.A. 1872. BocAGE, Prof. J. V. Barboza du, C.M.Z.S. ; Royal Museum, Lisbon. 1880. BuREATJ, Louis, M.D. ; Ecole de Medecine, Nantes. 1873. CoLLETT, Prof. Robert, F.M.Z.S. ; Zoological Museum, Christi- ania. 5 1872. CotjEs, Dr. Elliott, C.M.Z.S. ; Smithsonian Institution, "Wash- ington, D.C. 1875. DoRiA, Marchese Giacomo, F.M.Z.S,, Strada Nuova, 6,, Genoa, Italy. 1872. Fatio, Dr. Victor, C.M.Z.S., Geneva. 1872. Longchamps, Baron De Selts, Liege. 1866. Madarasz, Dr. JirLius von ; National Museum, Buda- Pesth. lo 1883. Marsh, Prof. Othniel Charles, C.M.Z.S. ; Yale College, New- haven, U.S.A. 1894. Menzbibr, Prof, Dr, Michael, CM.Z.S. ; Imperial Society of Naturalists, Moscow, 1881. Meyer, Dr, Adolf Bernhard, C,M,Z,S., Director of the Royal Museum, Dresden. 1872. Milne-Edwards, Prof, Alphonse, F.M.Z.S.; Jardin des Plantes, Paris. 1890. Oustalet, Dr. Emile, C.M.Z.S.; Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, Jardin des Plantes, Paris. 15 1894. Pleske, H.E. Dr. Theodor, F.M.Z.S.; Office of the Company " Nadeshda," St. Petersburg. 1872. Radde, Prof. Gustav, F.M.Z.S., Tiflis. 1880. Ridgway, Robert, C.M.Z.S. ; Smithsonian Institution, Wash- ington, D.C. 1894. Schalow, Herman; 15 Schleswiger Ufer, Berlin, N.W. 189G. Winge, Herluf; University Zoological Museum, Copenhagen. b 2 CONTENTS OF VOL. IV.— SEVENTH SERIES. (1898.) Number XIII., January. Page I. A Short Trip to Kashmir, By J. Davidson, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U 1 II. A List of the Birds of the Island of Rotumah. By H. Gabow, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S 42 III. On the Terrestrial Attitudes of Loons and Grebes. By Dr. H. W. Shupeldt, C.M.Z.S 46 IV. On some Birds and Eggs lately collected at Cape York, Queensland, by Mr. H. G. Barnard. By D. Le Souef, Mel- bourne. (Plate I.) 51 V. On the Rediscovery of three remarkable Species of Birds of South America. By Hans, Graf von Beklepsch. (Plate II.) 60 VI. Notes on some Specimens of Anatidce in the late Count Ninni's Collection. By Prof. Ettoeb Arkigoni degli Oddi . 67 VII. An Ornithological Expedition to the Cape Verde Islands. By Boyd Alexander. (Plate III.) 74 VIII. On some Birds from the Island of Negros, Philippines. By W. Eagle Clarke, F.L.S. Part III 119 IX On a New Species of Pheasant from Burma. By Eugene W. Gates, F.Z.S 124 XXll X. Further Notes on Tunisian Birds. By Joseph I. S. Whitaker, F.Z.S 125 XI. On a Collection of Birds from Witu, British East Africa. By F. J. Jackson, F.Z.S. With Notes by E. Bowdler Sharpe, LL.D., F.Z.S 133 XII. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. Nos. XLVII. & XLVIII 142 XIII. Notices of recent Ornithological Publications : — 1. Annals of Scottish Natural History, Nos. 23 & 24, July and October, 1897 157 2. ' The Auk,' July and October, 1897 158 3. Buller on the Ornithology of New Zealand .... 160 4. Cooke's ' Birds of Colorado ' 161 5. Forbes and Robinson on the Parrots of the Derby Museum 161 6. Goeldi on the Vultures of South America .... 162 7. Hartert on Doherty's Collection from the Eastern Archipelago 162 8. Hartert on Birds from Lombok 164 9. Lee's Photographs of British Birds 165 10. Le Souef on Birds of Northern Queensland .... 165 11. Lloyd on the Nesting of Guianan Birds 166 12. Madarasz on Birds from New Guinea 166 13. Madarasz on Birds from Ceylon 167 14. Marchant and Watkins's Wild Birds Protection Acts . 167 15. Meyer and Helm's Reports on the Birds of Saxony . 168 16. North's Notes on Australian Birds 168 17. North on the Insectivorous Birds of New South Wales 169 18. Oliver's Translation of the Voyages of the Sieur D. B. 169 19. Reichenow on the Birds of Kaiser-Wilhelm's Land . 170 20. Rothschild and Hartert on Papuan Birds .... 170 21. Salvadori on Birds from Bolivia and Argentina . . 170 22. Sharpe's ' Monograph of the ParadiseMce ' . . . . 171 23. Shufeldt on Fossil Bird-bones from Tennessee , . . 171 24. Stolzmann on the Birds of Ferghana 172 CONTENTS. XXIU Page 25. Townseud on a new American Eagle 172 26. Whitlock on the Migration of Birds 172 XIV. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. : — Letters from Count E. Arrigoni degli Oddi, Mr. C. W. de Vis, Mr. Frank Finn, Mr. H. A. Macpherson, and Mr. Ernst Hartert. The Bird-Collections of the British Museum ; The Dobroyde Collection of Australian Birds; The Great Auk in Ireland ; Reserved Localities in Jutland ; Rearrangement of the Bird-gallery in the British Museum ; Penguins in the Macquarie Islands ; The Birds of the Sandwich Islands ; New Ornithologist at Ley den 173 XV. Obituary.— F. C. Aplin and Sir John W. P. Campbell- Orde 183 NuMBEK XIV,, Ajiril. XVI. Notes on the Birds observed on Waigats, Novaya Zemlya, and Dolgoi Island, in 1897- By Henry J. Pearson . 185 XVII. Note on Bajphmiositta viiranda De Vis. By T. Sal- VADORi, C.M.Z.S. (Plate IV.) 208 XVIII. On the Habits of the Mutton-bird of Bass Strait, Australia {Puffinus tenuirostris). By the Rt. Rev. H. H. Montgomery, D.D., Bishop of Tasmania 20& XIX. Further Notes on the Birds of Zululand. By R. B. and J. D. S. Woodward 216 XX. On the Grey Shrikes of Tunisia. By Joseph I. S. Whitaker, F.Z.S 228 XXI. On the Nests and Eggs of some rare Philippine Birds. By W. R. Ogilvie Grant and John Whitehead. (Plates V. & VI.) 231 XXIV CONTENTS. Page XXII. On a small Collection of Birds made in Socotra by E. N. Bennett, M.A., Fellow of Hertford College, Oxford. By H. B. Tkistram 248 XXIII. On the Avifauna of Franz Josef Land. By Wm. Eagle Clarke, F.L.S. With Notes by Wm. S. Bruce, of the Jackson-Harmsworth Expedition 249 XXIV. Further Notes on the Ornithology of the Cape Verde Islands. By Boyd Alexander 277 XXV. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. Nos. XLIX.-LI 285 XXVI. Notices of recent Ornithological Publications : — 27. Beal on Common American Birds 298 28. Blaauw on the Reproduction of the Eufous Tinamou in Captivity 299 29. Biittikofer on Stoparola concreta 299 30. Campbell on the Nest and Eggs of Australian Acci- pitres 299 31. Cory on North-American Birds 300 32. Evans (H. M.) on British Birds 300 33. Godman and Salvin's ' Biologia Centrali-Americana ' . 301 34. Hartert on Birds from Savu 301 35. Hartert on Honey-eaters and other Birds from New Guinea 302 36. Hartlaub on the Birds of China 302 37. Harvie-Brown and Barringtou on Rockall Island . . 302 38. Helms on Birds from East Greenland 303 39. Hurdis on the Birds of the Bermudas 303 40. HuttonontheMoasof the North Island of New Zealand 304 41. Macpherson on Fowling 304 42. North on the Nesting of three Australian Birds . . 306- 43. Oates's ' Game-Birds of India ' 306 44. Pavesi on Pavian Birds 307 45. Saunders's ' Manual of British Birds ' 307 46. Schalow on the Avifauna of Antarctis 307 47. Schalow on the Avifauua of Juan Fernandez . . . 308 48. Schouland on the Nesting of a South-African Hornbill 308 COKfTRNTS. XXV Page 49. Seebohm's ' Monograph of the Thrushes ' . . . . 309 50. Vilaro on Hybrids in Poultry 309 51. Wright and Coues on North- American Birds . . . 310 XXVII. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. : — Letters from Heer F. E. Blaauw, Mr, C. 0. Whitman, Mr. Frank Finn, Mr. E. W. H. Holdsworth, Mr. J. H. Gurney, and Mr. W. K. Ogilvie Grant. The Nocturnal Migration of Birds ; Winter-birds in Spitsbergen ; New Work on the Structure of Birds ; The Collection of Birds' eggs at the British Museum ; International Ornithological Exhibition ; Publications relating to British Birds 310 Number XV., July. XXVIII. On a Hybrid Thrush found in Norway {Tardus iliaciis X Turdus pilaris). By R. Collett. (Plate VII.) . .317 XXIX. The Birds of a Bangkok Garden. By S. S. Flowee, F.Z.S., Royal Siamese Museum 319 XXX. Further Observations on the Birds of the Province of Fohkicn, China. By C. B. Rickett and J. D. D. La Totjche. With Notes by W. R. Ogilvie Gkanx 328 XXXI. Field-notes on the Land-birds of Sabaragamuwa Province, Ceylon. By Frederick Lewis, A.C.F. Ceylon, F.L.S. 334 XXXII. Notes on the Birds of Northern Formosa. By J. D. D. La Touche 356 XXXIII. List of a small Collection of Birds made in the Vicinity of Lahej, in Southern Arabia. By Richard Hawker, F.Z.S 374 XXXIV. On the final Collections of Birds made by Mr. Alexander Whyte, F.Z.S., in Nyasaland. By Captain G. E. Shellet, F.Z.S. With Prefatory Remarks by P. L. Sclatee, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S 376 XXVI CONTENTS. Page XXXV. Narrative of a Visit to Somaliland in 1897, with Field-notes on the Birds obtained during the Expedition. By E. LoET Phillips, F.Z.S. (Plates YIII.-X.) 382 XXXVI. Proceedings at the Anniversary Meeting of the British Ornithologists' Union, 1898 425 XXXVII. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. Nos. LII.-LIV 428 XXXVIII. Notices of recent Ornithological Publications : — 52. Andrews on a Skeleton of Megalapteryx 440 53. Annals of Scottish Natural History. Nos. 25 and 26, January and April, 1898 440 54. Arrigoni degli Oddi's Notes on Italian Ornithology . 441 55. ' The Auk,' January and April, 1898 442 56. Baron on North-Peruvian Humming-birds .... 444 57. Bianchi on the Genus Carpodacus 444 58. Blanford's ' Birds of British India ' 444 59. Chapman on Mexican Birds 445 60. Deck's ' Savage Africa ' 446 61. Finn on Anser erytJirojms in India 446 62. Finn on some noteworthy Indian Birds 447 63. Forbes on an extinct Starling 447 64. Hartert on the Birds of Flores 448 65. Hartert on various Humming-birds 448 66. Harvie-Brown on the Migration of Birds .... 448 67. Lee's Photograpbs of British Birds 449 68. Lilford's ' Coloured Figures of British Birds ' ... 450 69. Malischeff on Nerve-endings in the Stomach and (Esophagus 451 70. Naturalist's Directory 451 71. Nelson on new Birds from Tres Marias Islands . . 452 72. Neumann on the Birds of Eastern Equatorial Africa . 452 73. North on the Birds of Cumberland County, New South Wales 453 74. Praeger on the Birds of Rockall Island 453 75. Ilothsehild, Hartert, and Kleinschmidt on Comatihis eremita 454 76. Salvadori on a new Francoliu 454 CONTENTS. XXVll Page 77. Sanyal on Birds in the Alipur Zoological Gardens . . 454 78. Seebohm's ' Monograph of the Thrushes ' 455 79. Somow on the Birds of Kharkow 455 80. Worcester and Bourns on Philippine Ornithology . . 455 XXXIX. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. : — Letters from Dr. H. Jhering, Mr. Robert Shelf ord, Mr. Frank Finn, Mr. H. L. Popham, and Dr. G. Hartlaub. The Ibis Glacier ; News from Ornithologists in Foreign Lands ; List of Illustrated Ornithological Works in course of publication 456 XL. Obituary. — Dr. A. J. Malmgren, Senhor Jose d'Anchieta, and Mr. Osbert Salvin 463 Number XVI., October. XLI. On the Ornithology of the Delta of the Rhone. By Wm. Eagle Claeke, F.L.S. (Second Contribution.) .... 465 XLII. On the Dates of Temminck and Laugier's ' Planches coloriees.' By C. Davies Shbkbokn 485 XLIII. Further Notes on Birds observed on the Yenisei River, Siberia. By H. Leyborne Popham, M.A 489 XLIV. On the Psophia ohscura of Natterer and Pelzeln. By P. L. ScLATER, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S. (Plate XI.) 520 XLV. Field-notes on the Land-birds of Sabaragamuwa Province, Ceylon. — Part II. By Frederick Lewis, A.C.F. Ceylon, F.L.S 524 XL VI. A List of the Birds collected by Mr. Alfred Sharpe, C.B., in Nyasaland. By Captain G. E. Shelley, F.Z.S. With Prefatory Remarks by P. L. Sclater, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S. . . 551 XLVII. Field- notes on the Birds of British Guiana. By W. L. S. LoAT, F.Z.S 558 XXVIU CONTENTS. Page XLVIII. On a Collectiou of Birds from Fort Chiquaqua, Mashonaland. By J. Lawkence Sowerby. With Notes by E. BowDLER Sharpe, LL.D., &c. (Plate XII. fig. 1.) . . . 567 XLIX. On Birds observed near Machako's Station, in British East Africa. By Dr. Sydney L. Hindb. With Notes by R. BowDtBR Sharpe, LL.D. (Plate XII. fig. 2.) . . . . 576 L. On the Orcadian Home of the Garefowl {Alca impemiis). By Alfred Newton 587 LI. On a Collection of Birds from Marocco. By J, I. S. Whitaker, P.Z.S. (Plate XIII.) 592 LII. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. No. LV. . 611 LIII. Notices of recent Ornithological Publications : — 81. Albarda's ' Aves Neerlandicse ' 614 82. Andersen on the Birds of the Faeroes 614 83. Barboza du Bocage on the Birds of the Cape Verde Islands 614 84. De Graf on the Aquatic Warbler in Holland . . . 615 85-91. Finn's Notes on Birds in India 615 92. Finsch on the Crex sandivichensia of Schlegel . .616 93. Finsch on the PsopJiice in the Leyden Museum . .617 94. Finsch on Musciccqnda ivestermanni Sharpe . . .617 95. Goeldi's Naturalist's Journey to Southern Guiana . 617 96. Hartert on Birds from Flores . 617 97. Hartert on Birds from the Marianne Islands . . . 618 98. Hartert on Birds from Nyasaland 618 99. Hartert on Birds from the Talaut Islands .... 618 100. Hartert on Birds from Timor 619 101. Hartert on the Birds of the Sula Islands . . . .619 102. Harting on Hawks 620 103. Lucas on the Tongues of Birds 621 104. More's Life and Letters 621 105. Prazak on a new Trochalopteron 622 106. Rothschild on the Paradise-birds 622 107. Seebohm's ' Monograph of the Thrushes ' . . . .623 108. Shufeldt on Taxidermy at Leyden 623 109. Vorderman on the Birds of Celebes 623 Paga LIV. Letter — Obituary. Letter from Mr. J. I. S. Whitaker. — Obituary : Mr. Osbert Salvin, Mr. A. H. Everett, and Sysselmand Hans C. MUUer . 624 Index of Scientific Names 629 Index of Contents 647 Titlepage, Preface, List of Members, and Contents. PLATES IN VOL. IV. SEVENTH SERIES. Page I. Ptilotes gracilis 56 II. Pipra opalizans 60 III. Spizocorys razse 107 IV. Daphoenositta miranda 208 I Eggs of Philippine Birds 246 VII. Tardus iliacus x Tardus pilaris 317 VIII. Rhynchostruthus louisse 398 IX. 1. Tricholoema blandi ; 2. Pseudalaemon fremantlii . 415 X. Francolinus lorti 425 XI. Psophia obscura 520 XII. 1. Smilorhis sowerby ; 2. Cisticola hindii .... 560 XIII. Otocorys atlas 592 V^ NEWYORIt M ^CENTRAL PARf^''^ l THE IBIS. SEVENTH SERIES. No. XIII. JANUARY 1898. I. — A Short Trip to Kashmir. By J. Davidson, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. For many years I had been planning a birds^-nesting trip to Kashmir, but difficulties as to leave and other matters always came in the way, and it was not till the close o£ my Indian service, in March 1896, that I found myself at liberty and able to undertake the trip. I was fortunate enough to persuade Mr. Bell, of the Forest Department, to take three months' leave and accompany me. Although he had for many years been a devoted collector of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, he had previously not taken any special interest in birds or their eggs; he, however, became even more enthusiastic, if possible, than myself, and the energy and activity which a very considerable advantage in years gave him made him not only most valuable as an assistant, but deserving of certainly at least an equal share of the considerable success we had on our expedition. As his time was strictly limited to three months, and as the long journey to Kashmir from North Kanara and back was bound to take up a large portion of our time, it was necessary to select our date of starting so as to bring us on to the best ground during the cream of the collecting-season. It was therefore, after a careful perusal of all the authorities to SER VII. VOL. IV. B 2 Mr. J. Davidson — A Short which we had access, decided that we should leave Bombay on the evening of the 13th April. This season seemed the best, according to the results of the trip of the late Major Cocks and Mr. Brooks in 1872, and the notes on birds in Mr. Lawrence's recent work on Kashmir ; unfortunately, however, we had not taken into account the fact that the seasons in the Himalayas vary from year to year, and that 1896 was remarkable for a heavy snowfall, with the conse- quence that flowers, fruits, and birds were nearly a fortnight later than usual. We therefore, on our arrival, found that for the first fortnight hardly any birds had commenced to build, and we had to leave Sonamurg (the furthest point we reached) at a time that we were taking forty or fifty eggs a day, and when several of the most interesting birds were only building their nests. This was a great disappointment, but notwithstanding we were very successful ; and as I can find no previous records about some of the birds found breeding, I think it worth while to give a short account of our trip. Leaving Bombay on the night of the 13th April, we reached Lahore on the morning of the 16th, and spent the day there visiting the Zoological Gardens, which were prin- cipally interesting from the number of wildfowl on the sheet of water in the centre. In the station we saw nothing noteworthy except that Palaornis magnirostris, which I had only previously seen as a wary inhabitant of the Satpura Hills, was in pairs, and flying about as devoid of fear of man as the familiar P. torquatus. We left Lahore in the evening, reached Rawal Pindi at noon next day, and left again before daybreak on the 18th, reaching Murree in time for a late breakfast. We found Murree intensely cold during the three days we spent there, while our servants and tents were being carried by " ekka'' along the Jhelum. Birds were numerous, though the only ones we saw breeding were Stoparola melanops and ^githaliscus erythrocephalus. The former were busily employed in making nests in holes under the culverts along the roads on the hill, and we saw a pair of the latter carrying feathers in their mouths. We were, however, Trip to Kashmir. 3 surprised to see butterflies, and we spent our time most happily in capturing many that we had not previously seen alive. We left Murree in a tonga on the morning of the 22nd, and crossed the Kohala bridge over the Jhelum about mid- day, reaching Garhi in time for dinner, and next day we drove along the Jhelum, reaching Baramula about 4 p.m. We found our boats and servants waiting for us, and went a mile or two up the river to escape the numerous merchants beseeching orders for everything from Kashmir silver-ware and shawls to leather shoes. Between Murree and Baramula we saw a good many birds, and made our first acquaintance with several charming songsters, such as Chimarrhornis leucocephalus and Rhya- cornis fuliginosus. We saw also Palaornis schisticeps, with its beautiful yellow tail, in flocks, and occasional pairs all along the Jhelum till about seven or eight miles from Baramula, when it disappeared, and we never saw it on the other side of the Pir Punjal range. The European Cuckoo was heard everywhere along the road, and indeed every day till we left Kashmir. On the 24th and 25th April we were towed up the Jhelum between Baramula and Srinugger, we ourselves walking along the banks most of the way, carrying butterfly-nets and guns. We saw, however, very few birds. Starlings and Jackdaws [Sturnus humii and Corvus monedula) were in large flocks, and occasionally we saw a pair building. Upupa epops and the common Kashmir Thrush {Merula unicolor) were in pairs everywhere, while the banks were full of House- Sparrows building in slight holes in the ground. On the way we saw a small flock of Merula atriyularis, one of which I missed ; they were evidently passing through, and our general impression of this district was that it was very birdless. There were a good many Kites along the river ; we shot one, a fine male of Milvus melanotis, and took two nests of this bird with one and two fresh eggs respectively. Most, if not all, the Kites along the river seemed to be of this species, while higher up the Sind River the few Kites B 2 4 Mr. J. Davidson — A Short we saw appeared to ])e very small^ and wanted the large conspicuous white patch on the underwing. We, however, never got a chance of shooting a Kite in the Sind Valley. There were a pair of Haliaetus leucoryplius every two or three miles along the river, and Mr. Bell saved one of these from an untimely end. The bird had in some way got a leg caught between two crooked branches in the extreme top of a mulberry-tree, and must have been there a long time, as it was hanging downwards, apparently dead, and looking in the distance like a piece of cloth. When we got close, however, it made a feeble attempt to flap, and Mr. Bell insisted on risking his neck in climbing up, when he managed with difficulty to release it ; it then slowly flew away, and alighted on a tree a hundred yards ofl^. It is difficult to see hoAv it could have got caught between the branches. We reached Srinugger on the night of the 25th, and stayed there till the 30th, making arrangements for our trip. We saw few birds at Srinugger except those of species observed on the road up the Jlielum. On the Tukht-i-Suliraan a few birds were commencing to build, and on the 29th we found there several nests of Sylvia affinis and Emberiza stevjarti just finished, and one nest of the former with four fresh eggs. We also found a nest of the Himalayan Goldfinch [Carduelis caniceps) nearly finished; this we left in charge of one of the boatmen, with orders to send it on with its contents ten days later. On the 30th of April we went to Gandarbal, at the mouth of the Sind River, where we stayed till the morning of the 2nd May, but found there only the birds we had previously met with on the Tukht-i-Suliman. Several of the Sylvia affinis, however, had eggs, as also had some Jackdaws. We left on the 2nd, and made four marches to Sonamurg, seeing some interesting birds by the way, and also large flocks of migrating Pipits passing up the Sind-E,ivcr Valley. The only kind we were able to identify was Anthus rosaceus. Sonamurg itself we found almost covered with snow, and though we saw a couj)le of nests of Myiuphoneus temmincki Trip to Kushinir. 5 finished, the inducements to stay were very small^ and we marched back again on the 8th, Returning, in the Sind gorge we found a nest of Cinclus asiaf.icus in process of forma- tion, and were interested in watching from across the stream the bird collect a quantity of moss and then dive througli the water to the bank on which it was evidently building. Poor deluded bird ! it had chosen a position for its nest which would have been two feet under water when the melting of the snows caused the river to rise. This species, however, generally seemed to succeed in rearing its young, and does not suffer so terribly as the Wagtails {Motacilla hodgsoni and M. melanope), which habitually breed under stones on the islands, and the nests of which were frequently washed away, often before the full clutches, for which we were waiting, were laid. We camped at Gund on the 9th of May, and remained there till the 31st, finding one or two nests daily till the 20th, by which time nidification was in full swing, and we used to take many clutches of eggs every day. Gund, which is at an elevation of about 6500 feet, is a narrow plateau bounded by high hills, some of which are well over 12,000 feet. On the right bank (ascending) these are well wooded almost to the very tops, while on the left bank, except in a few places, the hills are bare and grassy ; the lowest 300 feet or so being covered by a quantity of a shrub with bright purplish-red flowers, among which Emberiza stracheyi, Pra- tincola maura, Sylvia affinis, Horornis jjallidus, and other birds breed in abuudauce. Our principal hunting-ground, however, was on the wooded side, and there we had very fair success. But we found so many of the birds we specially hoped to obtain either absent or rare that on the 31st we started for Gangadgir, and again reached Sonamurg on the 1st June, We stayed there till the 17th June, and then left, most reluctantly, as our time was drawing to a close. Sonamurg, which has been often described, is a broad plateau of some two miles square, containing a few low hills, which are sparingly wooded ; it is surrounded by lofty hills, 6 Mr. J. Davidson—^ Short snow-capped on the right bank of the river, but bare on the other side. Its elevation is 8600 feet, and the hills around must be at least 3000 feet higher. On the 1st June we found birds, as a rule, only completing their nests ; but towards the close of our stay we obtained ten or fifteen nests daily, mainly on the very steep wooded hills to the right of the river. Oddly enough, we did not find anything of the least value on the right bank of the tributary joining the Sind River on its right bank, though the forest seemed very tempting. Leaving Sonamurg on the 17th of June, we marched back to Gandarbal, giving up a day (the 19th) to visit our old haunts at Gund. We found there, however, that the nest- ing season was over, and that birds had young, in most cases already flying. We reached the foot of the Sind River at Gandarbal on the 20th, and had a day on the marshes, which we found were full of birds breeding. We then spent a couple of days at Srinugger, one devoted to the Tukht-i-Suliman, and the other to the Dal Lake. The former was not a success, but the morning we spent on the Dal Lake produced some 200 eggs, though we did not molest the common species, such as Gallinnla chloropus and Podicipes minor. We then returned the way we had come, reaching Bombay on the 6th July. In a trip of this description, extending over such a short period, of course very many birds must have been over- looked, and the notes as to the birds we observed must be very sparse j still during our trip we worked hard, leaving our tents generally soon after 6 in the morning, and working till 12 or 1, when we returned to breakfast. Between then and 4 we were generally fully employed blowing eggs (for we blew the rarest ourselves, not trusting them to my skinner), putting insects in papers, and making notes. After 4 we used to spend the time till dark in collecting. On such days as we had not enough to keep us employed at home from 1 to 4 we used to go for a stroll near the tents. We thus managed to get a good many hours' hard work every day, and noticed the following birds. Trip to Kashmir. 7 all of which we found in Kashmir territory, this list not including species seen at Murree before we crossed the frontier. The names used in this list are mostly those of * The Fauna of British India/ by Oates and Blanford. L CORVUS MACRORHYNCHUS Wagl. This Crow was common all along the Sind Valley as far as Sonamurg, and also in the Jhelum Valley between Kohala and Baramula. In the Valley of Kashmir proper, with the exception of a pair on the Tukht-i-Suliman in Srinugger, we did not meet with it. We took fresh eggs from the beginning of May in various places in the Sind Valley. 2. CoRVUS SPLENDENS Vicill. This species we noticed abundantly about Srinugger and along the Jhelum between that place and Baramula, but we never saw the bird anywhere in the Sind Valley. The Kashmir birds are almost white, so much so that we did not recognize the species on first meeting with it. Their young were flying in the neighbourhood of Srinugger in the end of June. 3. CoRVUs MONEDULA Linn. Noticed first at Uri in the Jhelum Valley on April 23rd, where Jackdaws were building in the fort, and from there in numbers in every village between Baramula and Srinugger. We found them in abundance in the Sind Valley as far as Gund in the beginning of May, and later on they appeared in considerable numbers at Gangadgir (7000 feet), at the foot of the gorge leading up to Sonamurg. We, however, never met with any at Sonamurg, and they do not seem to enter the gorge at all. We saw some nests in holes in buildings in Srinugger, and in holes in banks along the Jhelum, but the vast majority were in holes in trees, espe- cially of chunar-trees ; many being several feet from the mouth of the holes. The eggs were laid in the first three weeks of May, and varied much, as they do in Europe. We saw a single pair of birds building on the 2Ist June at Gandarbal, where there were many young flying, so it is likely that some at least breed twice in the year. 8 Mr. J. Davidson — A Short 4. Urocissa FLAViROSTRis (Blyth). This Magpie we found only twice in Kashmir : once on May 3rd near Kagan, the second stage in the Sind Valley, where we saw three together ; and again I saw and shot a single specimen at Kulan, eighteen miles further up the river, on the 9th. 5. NUCIFRAGA MULTIPUNCTATA Gould. We found this species in pairs in the neighbourhood of Gund during the month of May. The birds were very tame and noisy, mobbing Owls, and walking on the ground quite close to us. We saw no signs of their breeding ; a specimen shot on the 4th May was also not breeding. On the 31st May we saw five or six together at the foot of the gorge on the Sind River. We did not notice any at Sonamurg, nor at Gund on our return in June. They possibly had gone somewiiere further north to breed ; but as the l)ird is considered a very early breeder we had fully expected to find their nests, and frequently watched them for long periods. 6. Graculus eremita (Linn.). There were large flocks of this and the succeeding species at Sonamurg on May 7th, feeding on the plateau and the sides of the bare hills ; but, with the exception of a single pair, all had left by the 1st of June, when we returned to Sonamurg. This pair we saw daily ; they seemed to come from some cliffs above the wooded hill below the village ; the place, however, was quite inaccessible. 7. Pyrrhocorax alpinus (Linn.). This bird was certainly the commoner of the two species of Choughs on May 7th, but was much more shy. We never came upon it again. Both species were found in the same flock. 8. Parus ATRiCEPs Horsf. This Tit was common at Srinugger, and also along the Sind Valley from Kagan to Gangadgir (7000 feet), but we did not see it at Sonamurg, or at an altitude of above 7000 feet. We obtained numerous nests between the 19th Trijj to Kashmir. 9 and 31st May in lioles^ at various heights in trees, both dead and growing; the eggs being generally from five to seven in number, and deposited in the usual beds of hair and moss. 9. Parus monticola Vig. This Tit was decidedly rare, and noticed by us only on a few occasions in the neighbourhood of Crund, and then only in the denser forests. The only nest we obtained was very deep down in a hole in a small tree some dozen feet from the ground, aud on the 29th May, when we found it, it contained six well-grown young. 10. LOPHOPHANES MELANOLOPHUS (Vig.). This was the common Tit at all elevations above 7000 feet. It was in flocks at Sonamurg on the 5th May, but paired ijamediately afterwards, as we saw a pair building on the {^th. We took several nests between the 24th May and the l^thJune; that taken on the 21th May containing seven eggs just being hatched, while one of those taken on the 16th June contained six fresh eggs. The nests were at various heights, but most did not exceed four or five feet ; we found one, however, over forty feet from the ground. All were in holes in trees, but generally so near the entrance that it was easy to get at the nests by merely breaking away the rotten wood round the hole with a knife. They consisted of a little moss, lined with a thick patch of hair. The number of eggs was in all cases five, six, or seven. The eggs are large for the size of the bird and very thickly spotted ; they vary considerably in size, in one clutch being nearly as large as those of Parus atriceps. 11. TrOCHALOPTERUM LINEATUM (Vig.). This Babbler was very common all along the Jhelum Valley from Kohala to Baramula, and in the neighbourhood of Guud in the Siud Valley. We did not see it anywhere above 7000 feet. We found many of its nests, containing three or four eggs, either in the scrub at the foot of the hills or in the lower branches of fir-trees in the forest close to the base of the hills. 10 Mr. J. Davidson—^ Short 12. Myiophoneus temmincki Vig. This bird was common along the Jhelum Valley from Kohala (2500 feet) to Baramula (5000 feet). We did not notice it in the Valley of Kashmir proper, but there the country was not suited to it ; it was very common from Kagan to Souamurg, along the Sind River and its tributaries. We found many of its nests, placed from a foot above the level of the river, in low rocky banks, to the sides of precipitous cliffs quite inaccessible to the climber. Although the number of nests found was very large, the proportion of those with eggs or young was very small, and the birds apparently build and desert a number of nests without laying in them. In many cases we found two new nests within a yard or two of each other, but in no case did we find more than one nest occupied, and in many cases both were deserted. The number of eggs or young was either three or four. 13. Larvivora brunnea Hodgs. This is a rather late migrant, which we did not notice till the 11th May, when we saw a pair at Gund. Next day we saw a small flock of half a dozen males, and after that they became quite common. We found them equally so at Sona- murg. They have a pleasant song, and the males are very bold, singing loudly in almost every piece of thick jungle ; the females, on the other hand, were very shy, and except occasionally for a glimpse of a brown bird, which was either this or lanthia rufilata, we hardly saw any. On the 11th June, at Sonamurg, my companion started a bird from a nest with three eggs ; it was built on the ground, against one of three fallen pines lying together; he waited an hour or so, but the bird did not return. Next morning he found the bird on the nest, which then contained four eggs; but though he devoted a couple of hours to watching the nest, he did not manage to get a shot. Next day we tried to drive the bird, but she rose wild, and disappeared at once in the thick undergrowth. I then sat over the nest, and in half an hour she returned and perched on a bare stump Trip to Kashmir. 11 some sixty yards off. Through the glass I could be quite certain as to the bird, but I wanted the specimen, and waited ; she dropped into the undergrowth and disappeared, so after half an hour I went to the nest, when she fluttered off at my feet, disappearing in the bushes before she had gone ten yards. I then sat near the tree she had formerly lit upon, but she never showed, and on my again approach- ing the nest she rose wild, and again at once disappeared. I then went back to my original place, and in a few minutes she hopped on to the stump to which she had originally gone, and I secured her with a fortunate long shot. The nest was on almost bare ground between the fallen tree and a bare branch, and was a very large and loose mass of dead and decayed leaves, lined with a very few horse-hairs. On the 14th we found another nest of a similar description with four eggs, pretty hard set. It was in a hole in the ground in thick forest. In both cases the eggs were of a pale spotless blue. All previous records as to this bird to which we have access describe the nest as built in a hole in a tree, and the eggs as brownish or greenish mottled with red ; and as there is no possibility of a mistake having occurred in our case, we think it probable that previous observers must have been mistaken and assumed that a Larvivora found in the neighbourhood of a nest of some Cyornis or other Robin was its owner. 14. HODGSONIUS PH(ENICUR01DES (HodgS.). We did not notice this bird till we reached Sonamurg in June ; but there we found it not uncommon over a limited area along the edge of the forest on the right bank of the river. We never saw it more than a hundred yards from the verge of the forest, and it did not seem ever to enter the high forest, keeping among the bushes along its border. On returning we noticed one or two pairs between Gangadgir and Kulan in a similar situation. The male has the habits of a Robin, hopping about with its tail over its back, and is very pugnacious to other birds trespassing in its vicinity. Both sexes, however, were partial to thick cover, and, except 12 Mr. J. Davidson—^ Short in the neighbourhood of the nest, were very shy. When, however, the nest was approached anywhere within a hundred yards or so, the female appeared, sometimes accompanied by the male, and both kept in the vicinity of the searcher ; and when the nest itself was discovered there could be no doubt as to the owner, as the female invariably appeared and kept moving about in the bushes within half a dozen yards, uttering a loud chattering cry. We found nine or ten nests, all similar, and placed in low bushes, generally about one or one and a half feet from the ground, and not in the least concealed. They were thick, deep cups, made of rough grass ; one measured six inches in diameter outside, and two and three quarter inches inside, while the depth inside was four and a half inches. Inter- nally they were lined with a few dead leaves, some fine grass, grass-roots, and a few feathers, and were most untidy struc- tures. In all cases in which a full clutch had been laid the number of eggs was three ; these were of a deep dark blue and unmarked, and varied somewhat in size. In one case we found two eggs of the usual type, and a pale blue egg considerably larger; this was no doubt an egg of Cuculus canorus, one of which kept constantly in the neighbourhood, frequently lighting on the tops of the little patch of bushes in which this nest was. There were two other nests of Hocl(jsonius in the same place, i. e. within a couple of hundred yards, one just finished and one containing a single egg; but unfortunately we had to leave next day, and so could not find out whether, as 1 think is likely, the Cuckoo laid eggs of a similar blue colour also in these nests. In the published description of the male of Hodgsonius by Gates no mention is made of the white feathers on the tip of the wing ; these are very noticeable when the bird is alive, but in dried skins are pretty well concealed by the other feathers. 15. ZosTEROPS PALPEBROSA (Tcmm.). Only noticed once in Kashmir, at Garhi, in the Jhelum Valley. IG. Cephalopyrus flammiceps (Burton). This lovely little bird we found moderately common at Trip to Kashmir. 13 Sonamurg and at Gnnd, generally keeping pretty high on the hills, above 7000 feet. It is shy, and usually seen flitting about the tops of the trees and difficult to trace to its nest. We were very unlucky in getting its nests. Of four which we found, the first, discovered on the 12th May, was empty; another, discovered on the 23rd, contained three young ones, just hatched, and a rotten egg ; a third, seen at Sonamurg on the 10th June, had three large young ones, while a fourth nest, apparently containing young, was quite un- approachable. All the nests were in holes in rotten boughs or thin dead trees, from twenty to forty feet from the ground. There was little in the way of a nest. The rotten e^^ and the fragments of the shells were of a uniform pale blue devoid of markings, much of the same shade of blue as those of Zoster ops palpehrosa. 17. Hypsipetbs psaroides Vig. This Bulbul was common along the Jhelum Valley from near Kohala to Murree, and again up the Sind Valley, from the neighbourhood of Kagan to Gangadgir. It does not seem to come higher up the river, nor did we find it in any case high up the hills. We took two nests at Kagan on the 20th and 21st June with three fresh eggs and three young respectively. They were ordinary Bulbuls' nests, about fifteen feet up small trees. 18. MoLPASTEs LEUCOGENYS (Gray). This is a very common and familiar bird along the Jhelura Valley and in the Valley of Kashmir. It was common in the Sind Valley at Gandarbal ; a few pairs were noticed near the river at Kagan, and a pair was seen on one occasion at Gund. We got nests in small bushes at Gandarbal in the third week of June. 19. SiTTA LEUcopsis Gould. This was the only Nuthatch noticed in Kashmir. It was common at Sonamurg, and less so on the higher hills above Gund, but did not seem there to come within a thousand feet of the river. It has a wailing cry, more like that of a mammal than of a bird, and this cry it was incessantly 14 Mr. J. Davidson — A Short uttering. We saw several nests between May 24th and June 12th : all were in holes in the trunks of dead trees, at heights generally of from twenty to forty feet from the ground, but only two of the trees were climbable. Both nests contained four fresh eggs of a pinky white, with numerous red spots. 20. DicRURUs LONGicAUDATus A. Hay. Seen sparingly in the Jhelum Valley, the Valley proper of Kashmir, and in the Sind Valley as far up the river as Kagan. 21. Certhia himalayana Vig. This was the only Creeper we thoroughly identified in Kashmir, though on several occasions we saw what we believed was Certhia hodgsoni. But whenever we were able to shoot the bird, it proved to be of this species. "VVe found many nests at Sonamurg, and one on the hills above Gund, in the last week of May and first fortnight in June. All, except one which was in a crevice in a tree, were placed between the bark and the trunk of dead pines ; they were composed of decayed wood as a foundation, lined with a little grass, and either wool or feathers. They were at heights of from 10 to 50 feet from the ground, and con- tained either four or five eggs, some clutches being much more highly coloured than others. 22. Anorthura neglecta (Brooks). This bird we saw only at Sonamurg, where it was very common, and in its habits it much resembles its English congener. We found many nests in the first fortnight of June. These varied much. Some were placed in the roots of fallen pines, and were large structures of moss, lined with feathers, and with the entrance on one side. Others were in holes in banks or dead trees, and consisted merely of a few feathers separating the eggs from the rotten wood. None were over five or six feet from the ground. Most of the eggs were white spotted with pale red, but others were white or spotted with pale grey. In two cases we found both white and spotted eggs in the same nest. Trip to Kashmir. 15 23. AcRocEPHALus STENTOREus (Hempr. & Ehr.). This very noisy bird swarmed along the reeds in the Dal and other lakes between Gandarbal and Srinufrger. On the evening of the 21st and the mornings of the 22nd and 24th June we searched for nests and found at least fifty ; of these about half contained eggs, while in other eases there were young or nests merely being built. They were deep and cup-shaped, and attached to reeds growing in water two or three feet deep. The nests generally contained three eggs, but we found clutches of four and five eggs, and in one case six small young ones in a nest; the nests being generally about a foot above the water. 24. AcROCEPHALUs AGRicoLA (Jerd.). We found this Warbler only in one marsh near Gandarbal, but there, on the 22nd June, it was very common ; the birds flying about in pairs, and singing while on the wing. They were evidently only beginning to build, as fully half the nests we found did not as yet contain eggs. We, however, in three or four hours' wading, obtained seven nests with eggs ; these were solid cups, built in various water-plants (in one case equisetum), and from one to three feet above the surface of the water; they were composed of rough grass with outwardly some reed-fibre and catkins intermixed, and invariably lined with fine grass, and in two cases one or two feathers. The eggs are miniatures of those of A. stentoreus, but not quite so elongated ; they are in general boldly marked ; in four cases we found clutches of four, and in no other case was this number exceeded. 25. Tribura major (Brooks). This bird we met with only at Sonamurg, where it was very abundant among the long grass and weeds fringing the forests. It never seemed to enter these more than a very short distance, nor did we find it any distance in the open from the verge of the forests. It is a very shy bird, skulking in the grass, and unwilling to rise unless almost trod upon, when it would fly a few yards and again drop into the grass. We did not see it till the 8th June, when in the evening we 16 Mr. J. Davidson—^ Short heard its perpetual tic-tic-tic in the dusk. By the 10th it was very common and calling all day. On the 16tli, our last day at Sonamurg, we found four nests just finished, but none containing eggs ; these were placed on the ground in thick herbage. These nests we carefully marked, and placed in charge of the village policeman with orders to take them on the 26th. He did so, and reported that one had been destroyed, but sent the others, containing 4, 4, and 3 eggs. These are broad ovals, large for the size of the bird, of a deep pink, mottled all over with round even-sized spots of a deeper colour. 26. Sylvia affinis (Blyth). This bird we found in great abundance on the bare hills around Srinugger in the end of April, and among the scrub- jungles along the Sind River, as far as Kulan (6800 feet), four or five miles further up than Gund. It was breeding from the end of April to the end of May in low scrub, generally along the nullahs. The nests were neat cups of grass and roots, lined with horse-hair, and generally contained four eggs of the usual Whitethroat type. On our return to Srinugger in the end of June the hills had got very much burnt up, and we were surprised to find the bird again bi'eeding ; but, instead of being among the scrub, the nests were on the outer branches of pine-trees, fifteen and twenty feet from the ground. We found four or five nests in this situation on the Tukht-i-Suliman, all with fresh eggs, and the birds seemed at that time to be restricted to the small scattered pine-wood. 27. Phylloscopus tytleri Brooks. This bird we found fairly common at Sonamurg along the foot of the hills — i. e. just under 9000 feet, but we did not notice it at any lower elevation. We took two nests on the 9th and 11th June; both were in forks of small pollarded trees some twelve or fifteen feet from the ground, and were neat and globular, with the entrance at the side. They were composed of feathers, grass, birch-bark, and hair, the last either horse or mouse. The eggs are pure white, and were four in one nest and five in the other. Trip to Kashmir. 17 28. Phylloscopus tristis Blyth. This bird we met with only on migration. This was on the 29th April, while passing through a lake near Gandarbal. There were small flocks of Warblers among the bushes in the lake, and the only bird we shot proved to be of this species. 29. Phylloscopus proregulus (Pall.). We shot our first specimen at Gangadgir on the 8th March, and noticed it later at Gund, high up on the hills, and also at Sonamurg. Nests, which we believe to have been of this bird, were found, one on a fir-tree, about thirty feet from the ground, and near the extremity of the branch, and two others on young firs seven or eight feet from the ground. We had to leave the former nest before the eggs were laid, and both the others were torn down by someone or something. 30. Phylloscopus humii (Brooks). This bird was not noticed by us except at Sonamurg, where it was excessively common in the forests, from the foot to the top of the hills. Its habits have been fully com- mented on by Mr. Brooks, and we found no difficulty in taking over a dozen of its nests ; these Avere all on the ground on some bank devoid of thick undergrowth. The eggs vary considerably both in size and markings, but are always pinky-white, mqre or less mottled with dark pink. 31. ACANTHOPNEUSTE MAGNIROSTRIS (Blyth). We first came across this bird on the 1st of June in the gorge of the Sind River, between Gangadgir and Sonamurg, where we were struck by hearing a pretty, clear song of four notes, new to us ; and on shooting the songster, to our sur- prise, instead of, as we had anticipated, proving a Robin, it turned out to be this bird. At Sonamurg we saw and heard it once or twice, in all cases close to nullahs or in the imme- diate neighbourhood of water. On the 17th June, when returning through the gorge, we found the bird very common among the rocky and tangled jungle on the side of the river, and we heard some pairs singing at Gund on the steep banks of the river, and also in the jungle immediately SER. VII. VOL. IV. c 18 Mr. J. Davidson—^ Sliort adjoining tlie large nuUali which enters the Sind River at that place. We devoted several hours to looking for nests, and examined every place we thought possible — hole, tree, bank, and rock, — but without the slightest success, though the birds, or rather one of the pair, came constantly singing around. It is possible that, as this was a late arrival, the species may not have bred by the time we left. We never saw or heard the bird anywhere but in the immediate vicinity of water. 32. ACANTHOPNEUSTE OCCIPITALIS (Jcrd.). A very common bird everywhere in the Sind Valley where there was any forest, and one whose harsh note makes its existence very apparent whenever it occurs. We found many nests in May and June, and certainly did not perceive any shyness on the part of any of the numerous pairs we dis- covered breeding. The nests were found in all sorts of places, often in holes of trees, both dead and growing, up to, in one case, a height of 20 feet from the ground ; in holes also in rocks, banks, and even in the ground and under stones. They were small cups of green moss, and the number of eggs varied from four to six ; they were in all cases pure white. We found the egg of Cuculiis poliocephalus in the nests of this bird and of Phylloscopus humii. 33. HoRORNis PALLiDUS (Brooks). This bird appeared in Gund early in May, and we found it along the bare side of the river up to 7000 feet among the scrub, and also a short distance up the wooded hills. It has a wonderfully clear cry of four or five notes, which, once heard, cannot be mistaken, and this we also heard occasionally in the Jhelum Valley down to 3000 feet, and also at Murree. It is rather a late breeder, as we did not get a nest with eggs till the 27th May. Between that date and the 31st we got several more. The nests were untidy and spherical, of coarse grass, resembling those of a Munia, but with an entrance near the top, and lined with feathers. They were placed in thick bushes, generally about two feet from the ground. The eggs in every case were four in number, and were of a uniform purplish-red colour and extremely fragile. Trip to Kashmir. 19 34. Lanius erythronotus (Vig.). Very common wherever we went in Kashmir up to 6000 feet. It bred in May and June. 35. Pericrocotus brevirostris (Vig.). A fairly common bird, noticed everywhere in Kashmir where there was any tree-forest, and evidently partially migratory, as several small flocks passed up the Sind Valley, through Gund, in the beginning of May, at a time when the local birds were building their nests. We found several of their nests — in all cases but one on the middle of a horizontal branch of a fir-tree ; the exception was in the extreme top of a walnut. The nests are most beautiful cups of moss, lined with fine roots, a little down and hair, and covered outwardly from top to bottom with green lichen. They are, I think, the most beautiful nests I have ever seen. The number of eggs in all full clutches was four. 36. Oriolus kundoo Sykes. This bird is evidently a migrant in Kashmir. It was common about Srinugger in April, but did not reach Gund till well on in May. Further up the river we only saw it once ; this was on the 1st June, when a small flock appeared at Sonamurg ; they must, however, have passed on, as we did not afterwards see any more there. The young were flying at Gandarbal by the end of June. 37. Sturnus humii Brooks. Very common in the Valley of Kashmir, breeding in holes in trees in every village there, and fairly common in the Sind Valley, nearly as far as Gund. In June a few came to the villages further up the river, but we did not see any at Sonamurg, or even at Gangadgir. There were four or five eggs, and in one case six, in the various nests we took. 38. Temenuchus pagodarum (Gm.). We saw a single pair of this bird on the 28th June on the Kashmir side of the Jhelum, a few miles north of Kohala. c2 20 Mr. J. Davidson—^ Short 39. AcRiDOTHEREs TRisTis (Linn.). Common along the Jhelum Valley as far as Baramulaj and also in the Valley proper of Kashmir ; it does not, however, seem to enter the Sind Valley, though there were a pair or two at Gandarbal, its mouth. 40. Hemichelidon sibirica (Gm.). This was one of the latest migrants. We saw a pair near Gund, evidently passing through, on the 23rd May, and we found small flocks and pairs at Sonamurg on the 1st June. These increased in numbers later on, and we discovered nests half built on the 3rd. They, however, take a long time to build, and the nests we found on that date did not contain the full clutch of four until the 16th, but Ave also saw other nests only in process of building on this later date. With one ex- ception, all the nests found were on the horizontal branches of large spruce firs in very open forest, and generally 30 or 40 feet from the groutid. The nests were large, solid, cup-shaped structures of moss, and were placed about halfway along the branch on the upper side. The number of eggs was either three or four. The birds might be said almost to breed in colonies, as in one place we found five nests in a circle with a radius of less than fifty yards. The birds were constantly on the wing, and looked then very much like some small species oi Artamus. The eggs are of a darkish green, mottled with microscopic dull red spots, giving the eggs a reddish hue, mainly over the larger end. We do not think this bird bred under 9000 feet. 41. SiPHIA HYPERYTHRA Cab. Common at about an elevation of from 6000 to 7000 feet in the Sind Valley, but not noticed elsewhere. We took nine nests in the neighbourhood of Gund and Kulan, from the 23rd May to the 17th June ; this last was, however, no doubt a second nest of a pair previously robbed, as it was in the tree adjoining the former one. These were all in holes in the trunks or boughs at varying heights. Of these two were within 6 feet of the ground, three from 10 to 15 feet, and the others from 20 to 40 feet. Thev were as a rule Trip to Kashmir. 21 composed of dead leaves mixed with moss, and lined with a few feathers and hair ; one, however, Avas composed exteriorly of dead leaves, and interiorly o£ decayed pieces of wood and one or two horse-hairs. The number of eggs was generally five, and they were of a faint bluish green, much paler than those of Bemichelidon or Alseonax ruficauclus ; they had a series of distinct reddish spots forming a ring round the larger end, and the small end was also of a paler tint than the rest of the egg. In every case the male had a bright red chest, throat, and upper abdomen, with a broad black bar on each side of the throat. The females varied ; some having no red on the breast, while others had a distinct reddish tinge. 42. Cyornis leucomelanurus (Hodgs,). This was a fairly common bird at from 6500 to 9000 feet in the Sind Valley, and we got nest* at Gund, in the gorge above Gangadgir, and at Sonamurg, during the last week in May and first fortnight of June. In about half the cases we found the males in the plumage of the female, and in that case, except in size, they looked wonderfully like Alseonax 7'uficaudus, which was common in the neighbourhood. The position of the nests varied : most were in crevices in trees, but not so deeply as in the case of Siphia, and we generally could get out the eggs without requiring an axe. The nests consisted of moss and hair and a few feathers ; they were generally low down, in only one case exceeding 10 feet, and that was only 18 feet. In two instances, however, we found nests of this bird placed against the trunks of trees. In these cases, though smaller, they exactly resembled those of Alseonax ruficaadus. The eggs were a uniform cream-colour, the thicker portion being a shade darker in some cases. 43. Cyornis superciliaris (Jerd.). This bird was rare at Sonamurg, where we only saw one pair; but at Gund they werj numerous over the wooded hills, generally at an elevation of 7500 feet and upwards. We obtained only three nests there : the first was in the disused hole of a Woodpecker, 20 feet from the ground j the second 22 Mr. J. Davidson—^ Short in the hole of a thin tree only 12 feet from the ground, while the last was over 25 feet, in a rotten branch of a dead tree. The nests were of moss, lined with a few fibres of wood, and the eggs were 5, 4, and 5 respectively. These were taken between the 20th and 28th May. 44. Alseonax RUFicAUDUs (Swains.). This was much the commonest of the Robin-Flycatchers about Gund ; higher up, at Sonamurg, we found it rare, only seeing one pair, the nest of which we took on the 12th June with four eggs at the junction of the lowest branch of a spruce fir with the trunk, some ten feet from the ground. At Gund we found many nests ; they were large solid cups, generally built within reach or at the most fifteen feet or so from the ground on the stumps of pollarded trees, the branches of which had sprouted and were covered with leaves. In one or two cases we found nests placed against the trunks of large fir-trees. They were composed of moss and lined with hair and feathers, and bound round the outside with spiders' web. The number of eggs was either three or four ; they were of a uniform pale olive-green, faintly tinged with pink at the larger end, forming a cap. The birds, though very common, were shy when breeding, and deserted several of the nests we found ; they also took so long a time to build that on the 31st May we had to leave nests, which had been found in process of building a fortnight before^ either unfinished or without a full complement of eggs. 45. Terpsipuone paradisi (Linn.). This bird was common in the Jhelum Valley at an elevation of from 4000 to 5000 feet, and about Srinugger and in the Valley of Kashmir generally ; we did not notice any in the Sind Valley. The nests about Srinugger and Gandarbal contained well-grown young towards the close of June. 46. Pratincola caprata (Linn.). We found this bird common both in April and June along the Jhelum, between Kohala and Uri. We did not see it further north or in the Valley of Kashmir proper. At the end of June most of the nests contained fresh eggs. Triji to Kashmir. 23 47. Pratincola maura (Pall.). This bird was common everywhere we went in Kashmir, but was less common south of the Pir Panjal range and north of Sonamurg. We got nests half built at Srinugger in April, and in the Sind Valley, which we left at the end of June, many pairs were laying for the second time, while lots of young birds were on the wing, and we could have taken many clutches every day between these dates had we wished to do so. 48. Henicurus maculatus Vig. We were surprised to see so little of this bird ; we only came across it twice on small streams in the neighbourhood of Gund : once in May and once in June. 49. Chimarrhornis leucocephalus (Vig.). Birds of this attractive species were found in numbers along the Sind River, when we marched up it the first week in May, but they almost immediately deserted the lower por- tions of the river, and two individuals we saw in May, one at Gund on a tributary and one at Kulan, were evidently merely late passengers. It was not till we reached the gorge below Sonamurg on the 1st June that we again came on the bird in pairs ; on that day we found three nests, two in the gorge and one on a tributary of the Sind River. The first few nests were found in a few minutes by watching the birds from the road, the first being in a large crevice in the rock overhanging the road and some fifteen feet above it ; it con- sisted of a huge mass of moss lined with some soft fibre from the river-bank, and contained three eggs, quite fresh. The second was on the opposite side of the river, on a grassy bank, about ten feet from the water; it was, however, unaj^proach- able, as the river was unfordable, while a rocky spur prevented anyone crossing the bridge a mile or two further up and coming down the bank. The third nest was fifty yards from the river in a hole in an old stump. The hole was quite the place for a Tit^s nest, and was about ten feet from the ground. A boy sent up announced eggs, and not knowing their size and colour I spent a long time in the dusk watching, and. 24 Mr. J. Davidson—^ Short expecting a Tit, I did not pay mucli attention to a pair of C/mnarrhornis on tlie river-bank beside me, till one quietly flew over me, and entering, seated herself on the nest, which contained four incubated eggs. Several other nests found subsequently were all in banks or under stones near the river, and either contained four eggs or young ; they are similar to those of Rhyacornis, but of coui^e much larger. 50. Rhyacornis fuliginosus (Vig.)- Fairly common along the Jhelum in April beloAV Baramula, aud noticed along the Sind River and its larger tributaries. We found several nests containing three or four eggs ; these were mostly among moss on high rocks in the neighbourhood of the river. They breed from early in May till late in June, and the bird seems to rear two broofls in the season. We, however, found the nests hard to discover, much harder than those of the very nearly allied Chimarrhornis. 51. Cyanecula suecica (Linn.). We noticed this bird towards the end of April about Srinugger. It was then evidently merely passing through on migration. 52. Tarsiger CHRYS.EUS liodgs. Mr. Bell saw a single specimen of what must have been this bird on the side of a hill covered with thick scrub on the 28th May above Gund. I examined all the neighbour- hood next day, but saw nothing of the bird. Three eggs, however, were brought to us on that day, taken a couple of miles away on similar ground. The description given by the boy could apply to no other bird, and the eggs were pale blue, absolutely similar to one previously sent me from Native Sikliim by the late Otto Moller. The nest was placed on the ground under a rock, and was composed of moss, dead leaves, and a few stems of dried grass, and was lined with goats'-hair : a regular Robin^s nest. 53. Ianthia rufilata (Hodgs.). We found this bird only in the neighbourhood of Sonamurg, from an elevation of about 9000 feet to the highest parts of Trip to Kashmir. 25 the wooded hills, l^he birds were anything but shy, and kept calling and hopping all round whenever we were in the neighbourhood of their nests. Of these we found a good number in the beginning of June, but most contained young. They were placed either among the roots of fallen trees or on slopes so steep that it was difficult to traverse them with a gun in one's hand. The eggs were three, four, or five in number ; they varied in colour from pure white without markings to fairly spotted eggs, white marked with pale brown. In one nest, taken on the 10th June in a hole in the root of a fallen tree, we found the egg of a Cuckoo, apparently Cuculus saturatus, a bird which constantly kept in the immediate neighbourhood of the nest. In most of the pairs of Tanthia we saw both sexes were in the brown plumage, and it was decidedly the exception to find a male in the handsome blue plumage. 54. CopsYCHus sAULARis (Liuu.). I saw only two pairs of this bird in Kashmir : one was at Kagan, on the Sind River, on the 20th June, and the other was near Kohala on the 28th. 55. Merula castanea Gould. We saw a few pairs of this bird at Gund, and also at Sonamurg. It must be a very early breeder, as we shot young flying on the 28th May. We obtained also several nests with eggs or small young during May and June: one of these was in the face of a rock on a steep hill, and the others were from three to seven feet from the ground on stunted trees ; they were composed of dead leaves and grass, lined with mud, and then neatly lined with fine grass- roots. The number of eggs or young was either three or four. 56. Merula unicolor (Tick.), A very common bird in the Valley of Kashmir, but not apparently coming up the Sind Valley more than a very few miles. In the Kashmir Valley itself there were pairs in every village and grove of trees. We obtained numbers of nests about Gandarbal in May, and there were fresh eggs in 26 ]\rr. J. Davidson—^ Short others at Srinugger in the end of June. They were at various heights in large trees or on low bushes, and contained from three to five eggs. 57. Petrophila cinclorhyncha (Vig.). A fairly common bird both at Gund and at Sonamurg, where we found it at an elevation of quite 10,000 feet. It is a most beautiful songster, the males singing from sunrise. The females are shy. Our first nest was taken at Gund on the 21st May, and contained four fresh eggs ; it was placed on the ground under a rock. We obtained a nest at Sonamurg in a similar situation, also with four fiesh eggs, on the 8th June, and others as late as the 18th of that month. One taken on the 25th May, with five eggs, was in the top of a pollarded tree, about nine feet from the ground. 58. Petrophila cyanus (Linn.). Noticed sparingly on the Tukht-i-Suliman at Srinugger, both in April and June. It was evidently breeding there, but was shy, and we were not able to discover any nests. 59. TuRDUs viscivoRus Linn. Noticed occasionally at Sonamurg. It is an early breeder, as the young were strong fliers in June. 60. CiNCLUS KASHMIRIENSIS Gould. We saw a single specimen of the White-breasted Dipper near Gangadgir on the 4th May. We never, however, saw any others later on. 61. CiNCLUS AsiATicus Swaius. This Dipper was common everywhere in the Sind Valley above Kagan. We noticed on the 8th May a pair building on an island in the river below Sonamurg ; the female col- lected great lumps of moss, and dived with them to some place under the other bank. When we returned three weeks later, the whole of that side of the island was under water and the Dippers had disappeared ; but we saw full-grown young flying at Gund on the 19th May, and a pair, which was doubtless the same, building again under a small waterfall on the 26th. Trip to Kashmir. 27 62. Tharrhaleus jerdoni (Brooks). We never noticed this bird at any level lower than Sona- murg. It was fairly common there among the snow-clad forests in early May, and in June was generally scattered in all the pine-woorls. It is not a shy bird, hopping about on the ground or low down on the fir-trees within a few yards of the onlooker. We took only two nests : the first was on the 11th June; it was on a stunted pollard birch-tree about eight feet up, and was composed of moss, birch-bark, reed-stalks, lined with hair and a few feathers ; outwardly it was completely covered with pieces of birch-bark, and as it looked exactly like the adjoining bough, it was very difficult to discover. The second nest was found on the 13th June, and was placed on a horizontal branch of a fir in a thick cluuip about twelve feet from the ground. There were four blue eggs on each occasion in the nest. 63. Pycnorhamphus icteroides (Vig.). Noticed daily all the time we were in the Sind Valley at Gund, Gangadgir, and Sonamurg, where it was found in pairs and small Hocks scattered through the forests. In June I saw a female with something ia her mouth, but could not see whither she flew. I rather doubt this bird having regularly commenced to build by the 16th June when we left Sonamurg. 64. Pyrrhula aurantiaca Gould. Noticed occasionally at Gund in May, and at Sonamurg in June. At the latter place it became commoner towards the middle of the month, when small flocks appeared. Previously to that we had only seen pairs there. On the 14th June my companion saw a pair building at Sonamurg; the nest was on a horizontal branch of a small fir, about three feet from the ground, and was composed of thin twigs and lined with hair; it was in fairly thick jungle about 9000 feet. We intended to arrange to have the eggs taken, but wei'e unfortunately unable to rediscover the nest. 65. Propasser rhodochrous (Vig.), This lovely Finch was in pairs at Gund on the 11th May. 28 Mr. J. Davidson—^ Short It was, however, merely migrating, as after the next day or two we never met with it again. QQ. Carpodacus erythrinus (Pall.). This bird we also saw in pairs at Gund on the 1 1th May, and occasionally till the end of the month. There were a few pairs at Sonamurg in June undoubtedly intending to breed ; and we found two old nests in low bushes on the edge of the thick forest, which we believe to have belonged to this bird. They were of the previous year, and one con- tained fragments of blue eggs with dark spots. Although the birds we saw in the middle of June were making love, we saw no signs of their having begun to build. Q7. Carduelis caniceps Vig. This lovely little bird was fairly common on the hills round Srinugger in April, and on the 29th there we found on the Tukht-i-Suliman a nest half-built on the horizontal branch of a Pinus excelsa at about ten feet from the ground. This nest we had taken on the 8th May ; it was a lovely, very solid cup of moss, with a few roots interwoven on the out- side, and contained when taken three pale blue eggs, slightly spotted on the larger end with dull red and lilac. We saw a small flock of Goldfinches at Kagan on the 3rd May, but did not see any more till the 16th June, when a small flock appeared at Sonamurg. Coming down the Sind Kiver on the 18th, we saw another small flock at Kulan. As we are sure that there were none there a fortnight earlier, there must be a particular migration, and possibly the birds bred at that high elevation later. We saw a young brood flying at Srinugger on the 23rd June, and a pair near Uri in the Jhelum Valley on the 27th June. 68. Calacanthis burtoni (Gould). Fairly common in flocks in May in the higher forests round Gund, and in June about Sonamurg in pairs. One shot there in the second week of June would not apparently have laid for three weeks. We saw no signs of nidification. 69. Hypacanthis spinoides (Vig.). We saw only two pairs of this bird, one near Kulan on Trip to Kashmir. 29 the 16th June, and the other on the 20th near Kagan. They were both apparently migrating up the river. 70. Passer domesticus (Linn.). This bird absolutely swarmed along the Jhelum in the Valley of Kashmir, where it was building in the end of April in holes in the banks of the river. When we went up the Sind River in May, we did not see any above Kagan, but subsequently a flock came and settled in a village above Gund. It was common in June everywhere along the Jhelum as far as Kohala. 71. Passer cinnamomeus (Gould). Noticed from Kagan as far as Gangadgir very commonly, and there were a few pairs at Sonamurg. Its nests were, so far as we could judge, always in small holes in trees at any height up to twenty feet. We took a good many clutches of eggs at the end of May. 72. Fringillauda sordida Stol. On the 5th June an immense flock, consisting of some hundreds of this species, passed through Sonamurg in the early morning of a very wet and misty day. Wanting speci- mens, I fired at the thinnest portion of the flock, and killed some twenty birds. 73. Emberiza fucata Pall. So far as we could judge, this is a scarce species in Kashmir. We saw a few males along the Sind River between Kagan and Kulan. The males have a pretty little song, which they constantly indulged in, seated on the top of a bush. We never saw a female, and, though the birds were certainly breeding, we never saw the sign of a nest. We saw this species only between 6000 and 6500 feet, and only along the river. 74. ExMBERIZA STEWARTI Blyth. A very common bird on all the stony hills round Srinugger, and a few miles up the Sind River from Gandarbal. It was also common along the Jhelum between Baramula and Kohala. We found many nests being built about Srinugger 30 Mr. J. Davidson—^ Short and Gandarbal at the end of April and beginning of May ; they were on the ground under bushes. The only clutch of eggs we got was one of three at Srinugger in the beginning of May. 75. Emberiza stracheyi Moore. Very common above Kagan on the Sind River up to Sonamurg, and as far above it as we went. We found numbers of its nests built on the ground under bushes or rocksj and in the open on all the hills. It was not uncommon in the thicker forests, and one nest we got there was in the low bough of a fir-tree, about nine feet from the ground. The eggs were generally three in number, and in a few cases four. 76. Melophus melanicterus (Gm.). Common along the Jhelum Valley in April and again in June from Kohala to Baraniula, but not noticed by us in the valleys of Kashmir or on the Sind River. 77. ChELIDON KASHMIRIENSIS (Gould). A number of White-rumped Martins were noticed by us at Gund on the 24th May, and at Sonamurg on the 6th June and subsequent days. They kept flying very high and we could not get a specimen. They were no doubt breeding on some of the high cliffs on the sides of the hills, but we could not obtain any clue to their nesting-places. 78. HiRUNDO RusTicA Liuu. A very abundant bird in the Valley of Kashmir, but not noticed in the Sind Valley. In the end of June a few were seen between Kohala and Baramula. At the end of April they were breeding in great numbers in houses, temples, and under bridges. The nests were similar to those found in Europe, but the eggs seemed more feebly coloured as a rule. 79. HiKUNDO nepalensis Hodgs. Common between Kohala and Baramula both in April and June, and breeding on the clifts above the road and in culverts under it. We never noticed it above Baramula in the Kashmir Vallev or further north. Trip to Kashmir. 31 80. MoTAciLLA HODGsoNi G. R. Gray. This Wagtail was common at Srinugger in April ; during May and June it was very abundant in the Sind Valley, breeding under large stones on islands in the Sind River. Its nests were large masses of brown sheep's-wool, lined with hair, and the number of eggs was either four or five. Great numbers of the nests of this and the next bird were destroyed by floods, as the river rises many feet after each hot day, owing to the melting of the snow — a fact the bird does not seenn to have discovered ; and for every nest we found with eggs, at least the wreck of another was discovered. South of Baramula along the Jhelura we could not be sure we saw this bird, though a pair of young seen near Domel looked like it. 81. MOTACILLA MELANOPE Pall. This bird we first noticed near Kagan on tlie Sind River, and it was common from that place to beyond Souamurg. We found many nests in May and June ; most of these were in situations similar to those chosen by M. hodgsoni, but two or three were in banks of the river, a foot or two above the water. The nests were, however, smaller, and the wool composing them was in all cases white; there were always four or five eggs. 82. MoTACILLA CITREOLA Pall. This bird was very common in the marshes round Srinugger at the end of April, but we never saw it in the Sind Valley, and it had totally disappeared by the time of our return at the end of June. Whether it had bred and departed in the meantime we could not tell, but the boatmen declared that a Yellow Wagtail, probably M. citreoloides Hodgs., habitually bred among the willows in the marshes. All the specimens of Yellow Wagtail obtained were, however, M. citreola, and not M. citreoloides. 83. Anthus similis (Jerd.). Fairly common on the low hills round Srinugger and Gandarbal both in April and June. In the latter month it 32 Mr. J. Davidson— yi Short had young flying, and we found a new nest which, we believe, belonged to the bird. 84. Anthus rosaceus Hodgs. There were large flocks of Pipits travelling up the Sind Valley in the beginning of May ; these we believe to have been all or mainly of this species. We saw also a single pair of this bird at Gund on May 17th, one of which I shot, but they would not have bred for some time. 85. Alauda arvensis Linn. The larger form of Lark was very common at Sonamurg, but Ave did not come upon it anywhere else. In June we took numbers of nests among the longish grass on the Sona- murg plateau, each containing three eggs. 86. Alauda gulgula Frankl. We saw a few pairs of the smaller Skylark in the end of June along the Jlielum between Shadipur and Baramula. 87. Dendkocopus himalayensis (Jard. & Selby). This bird was common along the Sind Valley from about the level of Gund to Sonamurg. We found many nests in May and June, but all of them contained young. They were placed at considerable heights, 25 feet or more, from the ground, and were in both dead and growing trees. 88. Dendrocopus auriceps (Vig.). We saw and shot a single specimen of this bird near Sopur, on the Jhelum, in the Valley of Kashmir, on the 23rd April. We never saw the bird again. 89. Iynx torquilla Linn. A common bird everywhere in Kashmir beyond the Pir Punjal range. It haunts the outskirts of the forests and the gardens round Sriuugger and the various villages. We found several nests, but mostly high up in dead trees in dangerous or inaccessible positions, and took only one nest with eggs. This was in the hole of a Woodpecker's former nest in the stem of a walnut-tree, about 7 feet from the ground, and contained on the 94th May seven fresh eggs. Trip to Kashmir. 83 90. CoRACiAs GARRULA Linn. The Roller is one of the later migrants, and we saw none in the Valley of Kashmir in April, and only a single specimen at Gund in May. This we shot on the 17th. On our return there on the 18th June we found the bird sparingly distributed, but becoming more common as we descended the Sind River to Gandarbal. We took two nests in holes of trees on the 18th June, each containing four eggs ; one clutch was quite fresh, and the other just being hatched. On the 26th June we found the bird breeding in numbers in holes in the bank of the Jhelum near Baramula, and eight nests found on that date contained incubated eggs or young. 91. Merops apiaster Linn. This bird was common at Srinugger in the end of April, but seemed to be restricted to the valley, as we did not see it above Gandarbal, on the Sind. The only nests we saw were singly along the hill-side at Gandarbal. 92. Ceryle varia Strickl, Common along the Jhelum between Baramula and Srinugger, not extending up the Sind River more than a mile or so above Gandarbal. It was building its nest at the end of April. 93. Alcedo ispida Linn. Very common about Srinugger and along the same parts of the river on which we found Ceryle varia. We obtained many nests about Gandarbal in May and June, 94. Upupa epops Linn. We found the Hoopoe very common in the Valley of Kashmir when we arrived in April. It was then in pairs and continued common everywhere we went, while we even saw a few at about 10,000 feet on the hills above Sonamurg. Its nests were in holes in trees at all heights, and we found one nest among a heap of stones on the ground. The birds breed twice, as we came across small young at Gangadgir (7000 feet) as early as May 4th, and incomplete clutches of fresh eggs were taken as late as June i8th, while none of SER. VU. VOL. IV. D 34 Mr. J. Davidson — A Short the numerous pairs we watched seemed to be without a nest. The number of eggs or young was generally seven. 95. Cypselus APus (Liun.). The Common Swift, or the form separated as C. pekinensis Swinh., was very abundant on the high cliffs in the Sind Valley from the mouth of the Wangan Valley at Kagan to above Sonamurg. We shot one as early as the 2nd May. They generally flew, however, round the top of the cliffs out of shot. 96. CucuLUs CANORUS Linn. We heard this Cuckoo daily during all the time we were in Kashmir, from the tops of the highest hills down to Kohala (2000 feet). Considering its abundance, we were rather surprised to find so few of its eggs ; in f;ict, we only obtained three: one, normally coloured, on May 31st, in a nest of Pratincola maura ; another, of a uniform pale blue, on June 16th, in the nest of Hodgsonius phoenicuroides ; and a third, normally coloured, on June 27th, in a nest oi Pratincola bicolor. This last was near Garhi, on the Jhelum Eiver. 97. CucuLiJs SATURATus Hodgs. We only met with this Cuckoo at Sonamurg, and there it was not common. Its habit of constantly uttering its cry, which is like that of the Hoopoe twice repeated, revealed its presence in one or two places. We obtained one c^^, which we consider to have belonged to this bird, as one was con- stantly calling from a tree near, and another rose from the ground somewhere near the nest when we discovered it. The egg, perfectly fresh, was placed in the nest of lanthia rufilata, which also contained four slightly incubated eggs of that bird. It was taken on the 10th June, and was a broad oval, hardly differing in the size of the ends, and of a uniform brownish pink, with a few slightly darker spots. 98. CuCULUS POLIOCEPHALUS Lath. This very noisy bird was fairly common from Kagan as far as Sonamurg, in the Sind Valley. It is, however, a late arrival, as we did not hear it till the first week of June. Trip to Kashmir. 35 It is, I think, the most vociferous bird in the breeding-season I ever heard, calling as much by night as by day. On the 4th June we discovered a single white egg, faintly spotted, in a Warbler's nest, and wondered what Warbler could lay an egg of this description. On the 7th we again visited the nest and discovered that the Crows had robbed it, but the broken remains of the e^^, as well as those of eggs of Phyllo- scopus humii, were in the nest. On the same day, within a hundred yards, we found a nest of Acanthopneuste occipitalis in a hole in a tree-stump, which also contained a similar egg. The egg is about twice the size of that of ^. occipitalis; it is very elongated and pure white, with a few small brown spots. This Cuckoo is very shy, and it was only after hours of work, stalking various individuals, that we obtained a specimen, though through a glass it was easy to watch the bird and identify it. 99. Cacomantis passerinus (Vahl.). 100. Penthoceryx sonnerati (Lath.). These, our old familiar Kanara friends, we both saw and heard near Garhi, in the Jhelum Valley, on the 27th and 28th June. They were apparently common there, but we never met with them further north. 101. PaLvEornis schisticeps Hodgs. This beautiful Parrot was common on the way from Kohala to Baramula along the Jhelum, both in April when we were travelling to Kashmir, and in June when we were returning. We never saw it beyond about seven miles on this side of Baramula. 102. Asio OTus (Linn.). I saw a specimen of this Owl at Sonamurg in May, but did not manage to secure it. I also heard what I believe to have been its note in June at the same place. 103. Syrnium NivicoLA (Hodgs.). This Owl was not uncommon at Sonamurg and on the hill above Gund. We were not able to discover any nests, though we saw one of these birds furiously attacking a Crow. D 2 36 Mr. J. Davidson—^ Short 104. Bubo benualensis (Frankl.). I do not think this species was at all common in Kashmir. I saw a pair on the bare hills near Gandarbal; also some feathers at the Tukht-i-Suliraan, near Srinugger. 105. Pandion haliaetus (Linn.). On the 28th April I observed a single Osprey on the Dal Lake at Srinugger. 106. Gyps himalayensis Hume. Noticed occasionally, sometimes in considerable numbers, in the Sind Valley, and also in the Jhelum Valley between Baramula and Kohala. We did not see any of their breeding- places. 107. Neophron percnopterus (Linn.). K Neophron, presumably this species, was found abundantly along the Jhelum Valley as far north as Baramula. We saw also a pair on the hills close to Srinugger, and another pair at Gund in the Sind Valley. We did not secure a specimen, so cannot be sure to which form they belonged. 108. Gypaetus barbatus (Linn.). The Bearded Vulture was not uncommon in the upper portion of the Sind Valley, from about Gund to beyond Sonamurg. 109. HlERAliTUS PENNATUS (Gmcl.). We noticed this bird once or twice at Kagan, and saw specimens both in the brown- and white-breasted plumage. We saw also a pair towards the end of June on the Tukht-i- Suliman, near Srinugger. 110. Haliaetus LEUCORYPHus (Pall.). This was common everywhere in the Valley of Kashmir along the Jhelum, the mouth of the Sind River, and on the banks of the lake. It did not appear to follow the Sind River any distance into the hills. A pair bred yearly in an immense tree near Gandarbal. 111. MiLVUS MELANOTis Tcmm. & Schleg. Kites were very common along the Jhelum in the Valley of Kashmir, and were breeding when we arrived in April. Trip to Kashmir. 37 On the 24th of that month we took two nests in low trees along the Jhelum and shot one bird, which proved to be a male of the larger species. We once or twice saw a single Kite in the Sind Valley ; they, however, looked small, and did not seem to possess the huge white wing-patch so apparent on the larger Valley Kite : they may have beea M. govinda. 112. Circus ^ruginosus (Linn.). This was the only Harrier we saw in Kashmir ; we found a few specimens in the neighbourhood of the marshes in the valley in April, but did not see it elsewhere or later. 113. BUTEO FEROX (Gm.) . A Buzzard, which, from a close examination through a glass, we identified as of this species, was seen occasionally in the hills both at Gund and Sonamurg. It was evidently breeding, and continually uttered its long wailing cry. We unluckily did not shoot a specimen, as we always expected to find a nest. 114. AcciPiTER Nisus (Linn.). We noticed this bird occasionally in the high hills of the Sind Valley and shot a very dark male at Sonamurg on the 7th June. 115. Falco peregrinus Tanst. We noticed this bird only twice : once near the Woolar Lake in April, and again on the evening of the 6th May at Sonamurg. 116. Falco subbuteo Linn. We saw a Hobby, probably of this species, on the 20th and 21st June at Kagan, near the foot of the Sind Valley. We, however, unfortunately had not a gun in our hands when it flew close over our heads. 117. TiNNUNCULUS ALAUDARIUS (Gm.). The Kestrel was common in the Sind Valley, and was noticed also on the Tukht-i-Suliman. It was breeding on several of the inaccessible cliff's in the Sind Valley. 38 Mr. J. Davidson—^ Short 118. Alsocomus hodgsoni (Vig.). Noticed once or twice in the hill-forests between Gund and Gaugadgir in May and June. We did not succeed in finding a nest. 119. COLUMBA INTERMEDIA Strickl. We saw a few specimens of this Pigeon in the Jhelum Valley between Kohala and Garhi. We did not notice any in the valley itself or further north. 120. CoLUMBA LEUCONOTA Vig. This beautiful Pigeon was very common in the beginning of May on the Sonamurg plateau, and occasionally among the cultivation along the Sind Eiver as far down as Kulan. It was then in small flocks. During June we saw it occa- sionally at Sonamurg, singly or in very small flocks. It seemed generally to fly to and from a ridge of rocks not far from the nullah joining the Sind River, close to the village of Sonamurg. We intended to visit these rocks, but never were able to find time. 121. TuRTUR FERRAGo (Eversm.) . A very common bird along the whole Sind Valley. It seems a late breeder, as, though we observed one nest with young early in May, we found no others till the end of June, when we discovered several with fresh eggs. They were in various positions in low thick undergrowth, on the branches of fir-trees, and on garden-trees near villages. 122. TuRTUR DouRACA Hodgs. In the early part of May we noticed some of these Doves as far up the Sind Valley as Sonamurg, and saw a single bird there on the 15th June; the species w^as, however, very common about Srinugger, and along the Jhelum south of Baramula, in June, while we took eggs at Srinugger in that month. 123. LOPHOPHORUS IMPEYANUS (Lath.). A few of this species were found on the south side of the Sind River, at Gangadgir. Trip to Kashmir. 39 \2i. PUCRASIA MACROLOPHA (LcSS.). The Koklass was not uncommon in the forest above Gund ; we saw it several times, and heard it crowing almost daily there in May. 125. Caccabis chukar (J. E. Gray). This bird was very common on the hills round Srinugger, and about the mouth of the Sind Valley at Gandarbal. 126. COTURNIX COMMUNIS BoUU. We saw a good many Quails while walking along the banks of the Jhelum between Sopur and Srinugger in April. We did not see or hear them later, so think that they merely passed through on migration. 127. JilGIALITIS DUBIA (ScOp.) . This bird was common about Gandarbal on the flat banks of the Sind River there. It had small young, unable to fly, at the end of June. 128. LoBivANELLus iNDicus (Bodd.). This bird we did not notice in May, but it was common along the Sind Biver from its mouth as far as Kagan. 129. ScoLOPAX RUSTicuLA (Linn.). We found the Woodcock by no means uncommon in the wooded hills from Kagan to Gangadgir, though we saw none further up at Sonamurg. On the 24th and 25th May we obtained two clutches of its eggs, consisting of four slightly incubated and three fresh eggs, and on the 28th May I found a pair with small young ones, and distinctly saw one of the old birds carrying a young one between its feet or legs. It flew only some 50 yards, but though I followed at once, I not only failed to find the young bird, but could not even put up the old one again, and on returning could not find a young one that I had previously noticed on the ground. 130. Gallinago ccelestis (Frenzel). We saw three Snipe near the Woolar Lake in April on our way to Srinugger. 40 Mr. J. Davidson — A Short 131. Rhynch^a BENGALENsis (Linn.). Noticed on two or three occasions in the marshes about Gandarbal in June. There we took two nests in the end of that month with one and four fresh eggs respectively. 132. ToTANus ocHROPUs (Linn.). On the 5th May we saw three Green Sandpipers at Sona- murg, no doubt on migration, 133. Tringoides hvpoleucus (Linn.). We saw the Common Sandpiper occasionally along the Jhelum in April, and all along the Sind River in May and June. It was breeding on the banks of the Sind River, and we obtained two nests, each with four eggs, on the 8th and 20th June, at Sonamurg and Gund respectively. 134. ToTANUS CANESCENS (Gm.). We noticed a good many Greenshanks on the Woolar Lake in April, and our boatmen stalked a flock and shot several. In India they are generally singly or in pairs. 135. HiMANTOPUS CANDIDUS (BoUU.). We saw a small flock of Stilts on the banks of the Jhelum in the Kashmir Valley in April. 136. Hydrophasianus chirurgus (Scop.). This bird breeds in enormous numbers on the Woolar and other lakes in Kashmir. We obtained numbers of eggs on the 25th and 26th June on the floating weeds in the marshes adjoining the Woolar Lake. 137. FuLiCA ATRA Linn. A^ery common on the Woolar Lake and adjacent marshes, both in April and June. 138. Gallinula chloropus (Linn.). Very common in all the Kashmir marshes, breeding in May and June. The largest number of eggs we found in any nest was nine. 139. PoRZANA FuscA (Linn.). Common in the marshes about Gandarbal and in the rice- fields along the Sind River as far as Gund. We took three Trrp to Kashmir. 41 of its nests, with five, four, and a sin^^le egg, at that place on the 21st and 22nd June. 140. Ardea cinerea Linn. Common in the valley, where it is strictly preserved. We saw some of its empty nests on willows in one of the lakes. 141. Ardetta minuta (Linn.). Very common on the Dal Lake and in the marshes round Gandarbal at the end of June. It was then breeding, and in a couple of mornings we took some 20 of its nests. They were in patches of rushes and other weeds, and were very slight structures ; the greatest number of eggs in a nest was six. The female is very tame, and several times allowed herself to be caught on her nest. 142. Nycticorax griseus (Linn.). We saw a pair of Night-Herons at Srinugger on the 27th April. 143. Spatula clypeata (Linn.). We saw many Shovellers on the Woolar Lake in April, and again on the 21st June we saw three on a marsh at Gandarbal. On the 27th June our boatmen shot one on the Woolar Lake, but it was much out of condition, and may have been a wounded bird. I think, however, that finding three together so late in June makes it probable that some must remain and breed in Kashmir. 144. Anas boscas Linn. Noticed on the Woolar Lake in April and again in June. We found what was probably a nest of this bird at Gandarbal. It contained a rotten egg and the remains of others, but had been submerged by a rise in the water. 145. Chaulelasmus streperus (Linn.). 146. Querquedula crecca (Linn.). 147. Querquedula circia (Linn.). We saw small flocks of these three Ducks along the Jhelum and on the Woolar Lake in April. 42 Dr. H. Gadow on the Birds 148. NyROCA FERRUGINEA (Gm.). This is the commonest Duck in Kashmir. We saw numbers in Aprils and they seemed equally common in June. We took one nest at Gandarbal, in a marsh. It was a large structure^ comjoosed of dried reeds and down, and contained six partially-incubated eggs. Other eggs were brought to us, some as early as May. 149. Tachybaptes fluviatilis (Tunst.). The Little Grebe breeds abundantly on all the marshes and lakes in the Kashmir Valley. We obtained many nests on the 25th June ; the largest number of eggs in any nest was seven. 150. Larus ridibundus Linn. We saw a number of Gulls on the Dal Lake on the 28th April. They were too wild, for us to obtain a specimen, and as they were not in breeding-plumage we cannot be certain, but they seemed to be of this species. 151. Hydrochelidon hybrida (Pall.). We found this Tern breeding in large numbers on most of the marshes. We obtained many eggs on the 25th June, mostly fresh, but some incubated ; they were laid on floating weeds. II. — A List of the Birds of the Island of Rotumah. By H. Gadow, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S. Mr. J. Stanley Gardiner, B.A., Cains College, Cambridge, a member of the Coral-boring expedition to Funafuti, went afterwards in H.M.S. 'Penguin^ to Rotumah, a small island 300 miles north of the Fiji group, where he spent three months, from September to December 1896. He collected there examples of the following birds, which, preserved in spirits, he has presented to the Cambridge Museum of Zoology. The field-notes have been copied from Mr. Gardiner's diary. I am indebted to Dr. R. B. Sharpe for naming the specimens of Aplonis tabuensis and Ptilopus porphyraceus, as of the Island uf Rotumah. 43 1 was not able to determine them satisfactorily from the descriptions and keys as given in the ' Catalogue of Birds/ 1. Myzomela chermesina Gray. Four adults, one nestling. Native name " Arumea." This species occurs also on the New Hebrides, while its nearest ally seems to be M. rosenbergi of New Guinea. It breeds in Rotumah in October and November, placing its nest in any fork formed by the twigs of the hifo tree {Calophyllum inophylhim) . The nest is made of grass and rather deep. The eggs, numbering from three to five, are white, with a few red spots, very large for the size of the bird. 2. PiNAROLESTES (Myiolestes) vitiensis Hartl. Four adults. " Fa-aire.'^ This species shows distinctly Fijian influence ; the genus ranges from this group to New Guinea. 3. Aplonis tabuensis (Gm.). Five adult, one nestling. " Husela." The eggs are blue, rather smaller than those of an English Thrush, with light brown spots and splashes. 4. Lalage PACiFicA (Gm.). Four adults, one young. '^ Jea" or ''Chea."' The nest is very similar to that of the Myzomela, but the eggs are never more than three in number, according to native accounts. This species occurs also at Fiji, Tongatabu, and Samoa. 5. AsTUR cruentus (Gm.). Astur rufitorques Vesi\e = Accipiter rufitorques Hombr. et Jacq. This bird, called " Jerleva," has been repeatedly seen in Rotumah, but was not obtained by Mr. Gardiner. It is known also from the Fiji group. 6. Strix flammea Linn. Two adults. " Ruru." 44 Dr. H. Gadow on the Birds 7. Ptilopus porphyraceus (Forst.). Two smaller and two larger adult specimens. Called " Ku-ku/' from its note cu-cu-cu, &c. 8. Charadrius fulvus Gm. One adult in winter plumage. " Juli." 9. TOTANUS INCANUS (Gm.) , One nearly adult. " Juli." 10. Rallus (Hypot-enidia) philippensis Gm. Two adults. " Vea.'' These birds have very slight traces of the ochraceous pectoral band : in agreement with Fijian and Philippine^ and in opposition to Australian specimens. They were shot nearly on the top of a hill. The nest_, November 3rd, was between two buttresses at the root of a tree. It was composed of bits of sticks and old leaves, with a depression of from three to four inches, in which were four eggs resembling in every particular those of the Landrail {Crex pratensis). 11. PORPHYRIO SMARAGDINUS, Tcmm. Two adults. '' Kale.'' 12. Anous leucocapillus Gould. One immature. '' Lagea.'^ At Funafuti these birds nest in great numbers on one island to leeward, and on another island to the south of the large one. Their nests absolutely cover the trees, a species of Hibiscus, and are placed on every branch where a twig comes off. On one tree alone I counted ninety-three nests, and on several others there were quite as many. They consist of leaves with a few twigs, are two inches thick and about seven inches across, the whole plentifully covered with fseces, remains of fish, &c. The breeding-season continues through June and July. Never more than one egg is laid, which at first is white, blotched at the larger end with blood- colour. Later on the egg gets browner and the spots become more blackish. The young birds are hatched with a covering of slate-coloured down, and have from the first a trace of the of the Island of Rotumah. 45 white crown. The note of the adult is similar to, but harsher than^ that of the larger species. 13. Angus stolidus (Linn.). One immature. " Nogo." In Funafuti the nest is usually placed at the summit of a pandanus branch, completely surrounded by the broad, lanceolate leaves. The nest is made of pieces of coconut and pandanus leaves, twigs, &c., and is usually from six to ten inches thick, by ten inches across. In the centre is a slight de))ression for the single egg. The breeding-season is from the middle of May to the eud of June. The young seem to be fed principally on sea-molluscs, as plentiful pieces of shell are to be found round and on the nests containing young. The note of the parents is a sort of " cor-r-r-r." This is made use of by the natives to lure the bird at night from the top of a tree ; they catch it as it swoops down. A party of five or six natives will thus often catch a hundred birds in a night on one of the uninhabited islands to leeward. These thirteen species of birds are all which Mr. Gardiner has obtained or observed at Rotumah, and he thinks the list is complete so far as native land-birds are concerned. It is interesting to note that the majority of the land-birds occur also on the Fijian islands, e. g. Ptilopus, P'marolestes, and Astur. The species of Aplonis and Lalage point still further south, to Tonga. The Porphyrio and Rallus both have a wide distribution, while the little Myzomela occurs also on the New Hebrides and on Ponape, in the Carolines. It is significant that but one of the species of Kotumah, namely Lalage pacifica, occurs in the Samoan Islands. I append a list of the species of which specimens were obtained at Funafuti, in the Ellice group : — Totanus incanus, Numenius tahitensis, Charadrius fulvus, Strepsilas inteipres, Limosa uropygialis, Anous stolidus, A. leuco- capillus, Gygis Candida, and Demiegretta sacra. The following species was observed, but not obtained: — Carpophaga pistri- naria. This is the only typical and native land-bird at 46 Dr. R. W. Shufeldt on the Terrestrial Funafuti, where it is not common, being found only in the south-western corner of the island. Lastly, while at "Fiji, Mr. Gardiner had the good luck to shoot a specimen of the rare Leptornis viridis, and has brought it home well preserved in spirit. He observed three of these birds at Taviani in a crater-like depression, 2200 feet above the sea- level, surrounded by swamp overgrown with trees. He distinctly denies the correctness of Liardet's report that these birds "creep" on trees (c/. Layard, P. Z. S. 1875, p. 432). P.S. — I take this opportunity of respectfully answering the following remark of Count Salvador!, which I have recently noticed in Cat. Birds, vol. xxvii. p. 495, anent Crypturi : — "Dr. Gadow defines the Tinamiformes .... and places them between the Falconiformes (!) and the Galliformes.'^ The fact is, I do no such thing. Both groups not only belong to different " E-egions,^^ but even to different " Brigades " of my System. How would the justly-renowned Italian authority relish the analogous statement that he " places the Crypturi between the Chenomorphse (!) and the Ratitse,^^ or " near the Goosanders"? — H. G. III. — On the Terrestrial Attitudes of Loons and Grebes. By Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, C.M.Z.S.^ My attention has recently been invited by Mr. H. H. Brimley, the Curator of the State Museum of Raleigh, North Carolina, to an interesting question in regard to the normal attitudes assumed by the Loons and Grebes {Pygo- podes) when removed from their natural element, the water, and placed upon dry land or elsewhere, and to the mode of locomotion of these birds when on shore. In a letter to the present writer, Mr. Brimley says : — ''The snowstorm of three weeks ago brought an unpre- cedented influx of Loons into this locality, several of which came into my hands. One I had alive for a short time, and * On this subject see Bull. B. 0. C. vi. p. xxiv. Attitudes of Loons and Grebes. 4i7 I studied it for attitudes ; but^ do all I would, it absolutely refused to sit upright, or to assume anything approaching the ' book ' attitude attributed to Loons and Grebes. Its method of progression was by little jumps, both feet being moved backward together, the breast never leaving the ground. When at rest the body lay flat on the breast-bone, and the bird seemed to have no idea of any other attitude when on shore. I questioned, also, a man who had handled another captive, and his specimen acted in the same way. " Now, I am unfamiliar with either Loons or Grebes on land, and what I want to know is — Is the common upright attitude given to these birds, both in pictures and mounted specimens, incorrect and not assumed by them in life ? I have always used the upright attitude in mounting (except- ing for the one that would not assume it), and I would like to know the facts in the matter, which I have no doubt you can give me." In my answer to this, I stated that, so far as my own observations were concerned, they agreed with what my correspondent had noticed, and so well described in the above letter. In my opinion it is the rare exception for either a Loon or a Grebe, when out of the water and on terra firma, to assume the erect attitude, as is the habit in the case of the Penguins and the Auks. That they may do so momentarily, upon certain occasions, there can liardly be any question, and especially at such times when they desire to agitate their plumage after a general preening, as we frequently see Ducks and other wildfowl do ; but that when on land they habitually stand erect, I believe to be erroneous. Suggestion was made to Mr. Brimley that he should take photographs of his specimens of living Loons under as natural conditions as possible, and particularly when the birds thought themselves unnoticed and were in their normal positions of rest. An opportunity is offered here to add facts of interest to a question that, to my knowledge, has never yet been satisfactorily settled by ornithologists. Audubon, Avho was altogether too prone to figure his birds in extravagant attitudes, often represented the Loons and 48 Dr. R. W. Shufeldt on the Terrestrial Grebes he drew upon shore, and in doing so gave them both the erect attitudes, as well as, what may be termed, the ventropodal ones. His figures have been very extensively copied, and are doubtless largely responsible for the ''book " attitudes, to which Mr. Brimley refers. On the other hand, Wilson, who portrayed his subjects more in keeping with the demands of strict ornithological science, figured his Great Northern Diver in the act of swimming, and this figure fortunately has been very extensively reproduced by Coues and other popular ornithologists. A typical example of figuring a Grebe in a thoroughly erect pose may be seen in the case of the Great Crested Grebe {Podiceps cristatus) that illustrates the article '' Grebe " in Professor Newton's ' Dictionary of Birds,^ and another, in the case of the " Loon,^^ in Michelet's work ' L'Oiseau.' The female bird, however, in the latter has the ventropodal attitude. And so it goes all through the literature of the Class, and has been even carried into the osteology of long-extinct pygo- podous birds, for Marsh, in his restoration of the Hesperornis , makes the skeleton of that ancestral type of Divers stand up as erect as any Dabchick that illustrates works on popular zoology for our public schools. When Loons and Grebes go on shore it is rarely for any other jDurpose than to breed, and they never leave the water's edge but for very short distances — usually less than fifty feet. In our western rivers, the Great Northern Diver is frequently seen to pass out of the water on to the sand-bars, where he will stretch himself out in the ventropodal position to enjoy the warm sun and the complete rest from aqueous locomotion. At these times they are never seen to assume the erect attitude, except when they raise up in that position to vigorously fan with their wings for an instant or two. This attitude is beautifully represented in the case of the male Black-throated Diver in the group exhibited in the South Kensington Museum, and so accurately figured in Dr. Shai'pe's excellent article in 'The English Illustrated Magazine' for December 1887 (p. 170), on "Ornithology at South Kensington." That is a most life-like group, and represents both the Attitudes of Loons and Grebes. 49 specimens in it in normal postures, and the ones commonly assumed by not only thi^s species, but all the true Pygopodes. If it be true that these birds do not hibitually assume the erect attitude on solid ground, then it would be a nice pro- blem to discover the exact reason why they can not, and the Auks and Penguins can, and by nature do. Certain confor- mations of particular parts of the skeleton, and the action and arrangement of certain muscles and tendons, with all bearing upon the question of the general adaptation to sustain the proper equilibrium when erect, would be factors to be considered here. Passing from drawings to descriptions, it is to be noted that Audubon states that both Loons and Grebes have the power of running, walking, and standing erect. A Great Northern Diver, when wounded, rapidly made off by running in nearly an upright attitude ; while the Horned Grebe, when on the ground, '' is not better off than the Dabchick, it being obliged to stand nearly erect, the hind part of the body resting, and the tarsi and toes extended laterally." He figures the male of this species about in this attitude ; and I have mounted the same bird so, although I have never seen them thus stand in nature. According to Professor Newton, " when young Grebes are taken from the nest and placed on dry ground, it is curious to observe the way in which they progress — using the wings almost as fore-feet, and suggesting the notion that they must be quadrupeds instead of birds " (Ibis, 1889, p. 577). I have always noticed the old ones to behave in this manner when placed upon the ground. The late Professor J. W. P. Jenks, of Brown University, a very close observer of the habits of birds for half a century, says of the Loon that it is '^ unable to move on land, except by a constant succession of awkward tumbles," or in the attitude that Audubon has figured the male of the Eared Grebe in the act of walking upon the land, or his female of the Horned Grebe. The latter he represents in the ventropodal posture, although in the descriptive text he says that this SER. VII. vol.. IV. E 50 On the Terrestrial Attitudes of Loons and Grebes. species, when on land, is " obliged to stand nearly erect/' Consistency in ornithology, as everywhere else, is a priceless jewel. I find little or nothing about the behaviour on land of either Loons or Grebes in the very elaborate Reports upon the ornithology of the United States published at various times under the auspices of the Government by Ilenshaw, Nelson, Turner, Cones, and others. Practically there is nothing. However, in one instance, Mr. Nelson describes the mode of progression of the Black-throated Loon [Urinator arcticus), and he says : " On one occasion I came suddenly upon one of these birds in a small pool, and the bird, seeming to appreciate the uselessness of trying to dive, tried to take wing, but fell upon the grass only a few feet from the water. Hoping to capture the bird alive, I pursued it at full speed as it progressed toward a neighbouring pond. The bird advanced by raising the fore part of the body by pressing downward with the wing-tips, and at the same time, by an impetus of wings and legs, threw the body forward in a series of leaps. In spite of my eiforts, the bird distanced me in a race of about 30 or 40 yards, and launched into a larger pond " *. I have had several experiences of this kind with both Grebes and Loons, and in every instance the birds behaved in the same manner as in the chase just described so well by Mr. Nelson. It also agrees with the observations given above by Mr, Brimley in his letter; and another trustworthy authority at my hand says of the Red- throated Diver, '' their legs are placed so far behind that they cannot walk upon them ; still they shove themselves along on the ground by jerks, rubbing the breast on the ground. They make a regular path from the water to their nests." I have seen in their natural haunts a great many Loons and Grebes during my lifetime, but have yet to live to see them habitually stand erect on the shore, as Penguins, and Auks, and Cormorants are well known to do. Perhaps other field- * ' Report on the Natural-History Collections made in Alaska between the years 1877 and 1881/ p. 37. 071 Birds and Eggs from Cape York. 51 naturalists have been more fortunate ; but surely, in face of the almost complete absence from ornithological literature of the accounts of the behaviour of these birds on land, the observations of these others will hardly come amiss. IV. — On some Birds and Eggs lately collected at Cape York, Queensland, by Mr. H. G. Barnard. By D. Le SouiiF, Melbourne. (Plate I.) 1. Talegallus purpureicollis sp. nov. Cape York. (Barnard's Talegallus.) This species is found in the Cape York Peninsula. Mr. K. Broadbent observed it during his extended visit there some years ago. Mr. Jardine, of Somerset, Cape York, and Mr. H. G. Barnard have lately noticed the variation between it and the southern form, and the latter has kindly sent me some skins. The principal difference between the two birds is in the coloration of the lower portion of the neck and wattles, which in Talegallus purpureicollis (the name by which I propose to call it) is of a purplish white, and in Talegallus lathami red, with yellow wattles. Otherwise the birds are very similar : but, as Mr. H. G. Barnard says, " anyone who has seen the bird in life will at once observe the difference." The bright colours soon fade on the death of the bird, and the difference is not then so noticeable, although it can still be observed. During the breeding-season, from October until January, the wattle of the male is li inch in length, hanging from the lower portion of the neck. When the breeding-season is over the wattle shrinks and disappears ; it is then more difficult to tell the male from the female when seen in the scrub. The total length of the adult male is 29 inches, wing 16 inches, and leg 11 inches. Its head and upper portion of the neck red, lower portion of the neck, with wattles, whitish purple ; eyes very light brown, almost white ; bill black ; feet and legs dark brown ; the upper surface is blackish E 2 52 Mr. D. Le Souef on Birds brown, the tail being almost black; the feathers of the under surface are also blackish brown, tipped with light grey. The female is slightly smaller than the male ; the coloration of the head and neck is not so bright, and she has no wattle, otherwise she is similar. The eggs of this bird are oval in shape and smaller at one end; they are pure white and finely granulated. One obtained at Somerset by Mr. Barnard on Nov. 3rd, 1893, measures 3'61 X 2-36 inches. I propose that this new species should be known in the vernacular lists as Barnard's Talegallus, after Mr. H. Greensill Barnard, one of the most reliable and observant collectors in Australia, whose name, like that of his brother, Charles Barnard, is a household word among Australian naturalists. a. Calornis metallica Temm. (Shining Galornis.) These beautiful birds are very plentiful on the north-east coast, and build their bulky hanging nests on the tallest trees they can find, in scrub, forest-country, or man- groves. The tall trees they choose in the scrub are generally almost bare of leaves, and in the forest-country they prefer the locally-called " Moreton-Bay '^ eucalyptus. Their general habits ai'e very similar to those of the European Starling. They live in flocks of varying numbers and are often seen feeding on the ground ; they fly with great rapidity and seem always in a hurry. The way they dart in and out of the thick scrub without coming in contact with the branches is wonderful. When a large colony are nesting on one tree the chatter they make is considerable, and they look like a hive of bees round the top of the tall trees. They evidently feed largely on the fruit of the native nutmeg, as the ground under the trees on which they nest is generally covered thickly with these seeds. The thin branches from which their nests are suspended occasionally break with the extra weight of the nests and fall to the ground. The same trees are used year after year. Mr. H. G. Barnard climbed up one large tree at. Somerset, Cape York, and and Eggs from Cape York. 53 counted 296 nests on it. He said that the noise made by the birds when he was up the tree was something to be remembered. The nests vary in size and are nearly circular ; they measure 7 inches in diameter, and the nesting-chamber 4^ inches ; they are composed principally of dark- coloured curly vine-tendrils, with a lining of finer light-coloured fibres from the palm-trees. These birds lay from two to three eggs, as many nests having two as those which have three. The clutches vary both in size and coloration, many of the larger eggs especi- ally being well marked on the larger end with dark brown and lilac spots, in many cases confluent and forming an irregular zone. Others have smaller markings of a greyish- brown colour interspei'sed with lilac markings, but they are more evenly scattered over the surface. Then, again, many of the clutches have no markings, but these are mostly the smaller eggs and are probably those of the younger birds. The ground-colour is greenish white. Some of the eggs are more elongated tlian others. The following are the measurements of two clutches : — (1) A 1*16 x '80, B TlOx •79, C 1-12 X -78 ; (2) A 1-8 x "70, B 1-6 x -71 inch. 3. Myiagra LATiRosTRis (Gould). (Broad-billcd Fly- catcher.) The nest and eggs of this bird were found by Mr. H. G. Barnard at Somerset, Cape York, on December 20th, 1896. He states that the nest was built in a mangrove-tree over- lianging a deep stream, and that he had to push the eggs into his handkerchief at the end of a long stick. While he was trying to secure the nest it fell into the Avater and was carried away by the current. It was very similar to the nest of M. concinna, but larger, being about the size of that of Seisura inguieta. Later on two more nests were found, but they both contained two young ones. Mr. Barnard met with this bird only in the mangroves, and not in the open forest-country. The ground-colour of the eggs is a dull white, but one of the set sent is a shade darker than the other. The markings are mostly elongated, some greyish brown and others lilac, the latter appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell ; they 54 Mr. D. Le SoueP on Birds arc principally on the larger endj forming a zone, and on one of the eggs there are scarcely any markings anywhere else, but on the other the markings are more scattered over the surface. They measure : — A 'ZSx '54, B '71 X -52 inch. 4. Manucodia gouldi (Gray). (Gould's Manucode.) Mr. H. G. Barnard found the nest and two eggs of this species on January 23rd, 1897, near Somerset ; he states that the birds were not numerous and that they were generally in pairs. He shot a female in the beginning of December that had laid an egg a short time previously, but though he Nest and Eggs of Manucodia f/onldi. (From a photograph.) hunted about for some time he could not find the nest. The birds were remarkably shy, aad it was impossible to get near enough in the scrub to watch them. It is probable that the egg of this bird will always be a rarity, as the nests are and Eyys from Cape York. 55 hard to find ; tliey are very similar to those of the Drongo Shrike {Chibia bracteata), and the eggs are also somewhat alike. The nest is a shallow, open structure, and is made of curly vine-tendrils, the inside heing lined with the same material, only finer, and on the hranch on which the nest was huilt, and in conjunction with it, an orchid was growing, a portion of which the bird had worked into the outside of its nest. It was built on a horizontal fork of a tall scrub-tree growing in forest-country, about 20 yards from dense scrub ; the height of the nest from the ground was about 48 feet. Its external diameter is 6 inches, internal 4 inches, external depth 8^ inches, internal If inch. The ground-colour of the two eggs varies, in one case being dull white and in the other of a reddish hue. The eggs are thickly marked all over with longitudinal streaks in varying shades of brown, many appearing as if beneath the surface, they being of a lilac colour; the markings or stripes are most numerous on the larger end. They measure : — A 1*40 X 1*6, B 1'41 x 1'4 inch. 5. Tanysiptera SYLVIA (Gould). (White-tailed Kingfisher.) These beautiful Kingfishers breed ou the north-east coast as far south as Cairns, and probably further. Mr. Barnard found them nesting in termites' mounds, both in those situated on the trees and also in those on the ground ; some of the nests he took were 30 feet from the ground. They seem to have a certain day to start laying, as he opened ten nests on one day and found them all empty, but five days later he opened twelve nests and found three fresh eggs in each. Both Mr. R. Hislop and I myself have noticed the same thing. The birds burrow a hole in a termites' mound, either on the ground or in a tree, but much more often the former. Shortly after the young birds leave the nest the termites fill in the hole made by the parent Kingfisher. The eggs vary- considerably in size ; some are slightly pointed at one end, and others are not. One of the sets taken by Mr. Barnard at Somerset on Dec. 17th, 1896, measure: — A -98 x "SB, B 1-2 X -87, C 1-5 X -85 inch. 56 Mr. D. Le Souef on Birds 6. MicROGLossus ATERRiMus (Gm.), (Great Palm Cockatoo.) The egg of this bird has been previously described from New Guinea, but Mr. Barnard has noticed its nesting-habits, ■wliicli are well worth recording, though he was not fortunate enough to secure the eggs. These birds nest in the forest- country, and having chosen a hollow in a tree they, with their powerful beaks, break off green twigs about the thickness of a man's finger and carry them into the hole, having first removed all the leaves from the twigs. They then bite them into small pieces from two to three inches in length and strew them thickly over the bottom of the hole. One nest to which he climbed up in a large dead bloodwood stump, fviHy 200 yards from the nearest scrub, had the bottom of the hole covered to a depth of four inches with twigs of scrub-trees. Ko leaves are put in ; the holes themselves are generally two feet in depth. The apparent reason for the twigs being in the hole is that the birds breed from November to March — that is, during the rainy season, and as the holes for their nests are always chosen in upright trunks, the sticks would keep their single white egg or young off the wet rotten debris at the bottom of the hole. An egg of this bird in the collection of Mr. G. A. Keartland was taken at Cape York in February 1897 ; it is dull white in colour, and the surface slightly rough, in shape a swollen oval, slightly pointed at one end, and measures 2'12xl"55 inch. 7. Ptilotis gracilis Gould. (Plate I.) (Graceful Honey-eater.) This active little bird is found on the north-east coast from Cape York to Cardwell, and probably further. Specimens were secured at Somerset by Mr. Barnard, and in the Bloom- field River district by Mr. Hislop and myself. They seem nowhere very plentiful, and are often found in the open country and in the edges of the scrub. They build their nests among the leaves near the end of a branch of some thickly- foliaged tree, generally some 20 feet or more from the ground. Ibis. ]898. PI. I. r» _,.-M>v^. -^ ''^■-^iS^ J.G-KeuleiTLajvs deletlibln. . Mixtt errL Br OS. imp . PTILOTIS GTIACILIS. and Eggs from Cape York. 57 This bird (Plate I.) has been considered by several oruitlio- logists as being the same as Ptilotis notata Gould ; but both Mr. A. J. Campbell and I myself have gone carefully into this subject and consider that Gould's original description of the two species as being distinct holds good, especially from an oological point of view, although both birds are found in the same locality"^. P. gracilis is considerably smaller than P. notata and has a proportionately longer bill. Their note, habits, nest, and eggs are all different, and you get no inter- mediate links between the two birds. Both have been sbot off their nests on several occasions by Mr. Barnard at Cape York, and by Mr. Hislop and myself iu the Bloomfield River district. The nest is cup-shaped ; the upper portion is composed of green moss and shreds of bark, and the lower portion principally of flat pieces of paper-bark and moss. It is well covered externally with cobwebs ; the inside is beautifully and plentifully lined with the glossy white down from the native cotton-plant. Its external diameter is 2\ inches, internal If inch ; external depth 2^ inches, internal \\ inch. The clutch is of two eggs, and their ground-colour is a rich terra-cotta, varying in intensity and being much darker on the larger end. There are a few dark-brown markings, especially on the larger end ; but these vary in different clutches, as iu some they are large and of a deeper shade and form an irregular zone round the larger end, and in others the spots are much smaller and more scattered. A set I took in the Bloomfield River district on Nov. 23rd, 1896, measure : A '79 x -50, B '78 x "54 inch ; and another set, taken by Mr. H. G. Barnard at Somerset, measure: A •76X-48, B -77 X -51 inch. Since writing these remarks I have received a letter from * [We quite agree with the aiithor that this Ptiloti.^ is distinguishable from P. notata, and have great pleasure in giving figures of the bird and its nest from Mr. Le Souef s specimens. Dr. Gadow (Cat. B. ix. p. 227) has united both species to P. analoga of New Guinea, and it is possible that the larger P. notata may be barely separable from that form, but the group requires careful revision. — Edd.] 58 INIr. D. Le Souef on Birds Mr. Barnard on the subject, in which he states : — " There can be no mistake about the two Honey-eaters being different, as I shot both kinds from the nests. Both the nests and the eggs are diflerent^ and also the birds have a totally different note." 8. Ptilotis notata Gould. (Yellow-spotted Honey-eater.) This species is very plentiful on the north-east coast, and is probably the most familiar bird in the scrubs, and certainly the most in evidence, as they are very fearless and may often be seen basking in the clear pools of water, of which habit they seem very fond, or dashing one after another among the thickly-growing timber, uttering their loud note as they go, which on such occasions is different from the note they usually utter. They seem to be found most frequently in the scrubs, and rarely in the open forest-country. They often build their nests very low down ; one I noticed, with two eggs in it, was suspended to a palm-leaf at the side of the road, and was only six inches from the ground. Two seems to be the general number of the clutch. The somewhat loosely-built nests are composed principally of shreds of a coarse grass, with pieces of paper-bark, and are lightly covered externally with cobwebs. The interior is lined with the glossy white down from the native cotton-pod ; their diameter is 3^ inches by 3 inches in depth, internal diameter 2^ inches by 2 inches in depth. The ground-colour of the egg is pure white, but the markings vary considerably. Some have a very few large and very dark brown spots on them, all situated on the larger end ; others have the larger end covered with smaller brown spots, often forming a zone, many of the markings appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell ; others again have a few small markings equally distributed all over the egg. One clutch Mr. H. G. Barnard took at Somerset on October 28th, 1896, measures: A •88X'61, B "84^ X "60 inch ; and another clutch I took on November 25th, 1896, in the Bloomfield River district, measures : A •88X-65, B •87X-66 inch. and Eggs from Cape York. 59 9. Gerygone personata Gould. (Masked Gerygone ) These little birds are very shy and difficult to secure in the thick scrub where they make their home. One curious cir- cumstance is tliat they always seem to buikl their hanging, dome-shaped nests in close proximity to a wasps'-nest, from within a few inches to four feet away, and it is difficult to conjecture for what reason. The nests vary in size and are generally suspended from the end of a thin branch or palm- leaf. They have a porch at the entrance, sometimes going straight in and occasionally upward, and more prominent in some than in others. The nest is composed of fine fibres of grass, and on the lower portion, Avhicli hangs loose below, are often fastened the dried excreta of wood-boring caterpillars, which add weight to it and prevent its being blown over or against the nest. Small portions of the same material are often placed on the exterior of the nest. It is lined with fine brown-coloured down oft' the seeds of scrub-plants ; a good deal of cobweb is worked in, which materially helps to keep the lightly-built structure together, and cobweb is also plentifully put on the outside. The nest measures in depth 5 inches, exclusive of 3 inches of loose material hanging under it. Inside chamber 2^ inches. Breadth : ex- ternal 2^ inches, top of porch l^ inch ; internal 2 inches. The eggs are three in number ; their ground-colour is white, and they are thickly marked with reddish spots, varying in intensity of colour, the markings being much more numerous on the larger end and often confluent. A clutch taken on the 3rd February, 1897, by Mr. Barnard at Somerset, measure : A -80 X -51, B -82 x "48, C -82 X -46 inch. I have occasionally found the egg of the Little Bronze Cuckoo [Chalcites niinutiUus Gould) in the nest of this bird, but much more frequently in the nests of Gerygone magni- rostris. Mr. Barnard found many nests of G. personata containing one or two eggs partially dried ; one nest con- tained three eggs too dry to blow, and three eggs placed on top of them perfectly fresh. The eggs' drying he attributed to the intense heat. 60 Hans, Graf von Berlepsch, on three V. — On the Rediscovery of three remarkable Species of Birds of South America. By Hans, Graf von Berlepsch. (Plate TI.) 1. PiPRA OPALIZANS. (Plate II.) In the second part of his 'Zur Ornithologie Brasiliens/ published at the end of 1868 (pp. 128, 186-187), Herr August von Pelzeln made known a new species of Pipra from a MS. descri[)tion of Johann Natterer, who collected a single specimen of this bird in the neighbourhood of Para, Lower Amazons. Unfortunately this single individual was lost, and Herr von Pelzeln was obliged to form a diagnosis from Natterer's MS. description, which, nevertheless, was very full and detailed, and now proves also to be quite correct. In 1888 Mr. Sclater, when writing his Catalogue of the Piprida in the British Museum (vol. xiv. p. 292), remarked in a footnote that he was not acquainted with Pipra opali- zans, Pelz., and nothing has since been published about that species. After this, a young entomological collector, Herr Albert Schulz^ of Prussia, intending to collect birds for me on the Lower Amazons, asked me for descriptions of rare birds inhabiting that country, and when leaving for Para, besides descriptions of other birds, took with him a diagnosis of Pipra opalizans. The first collection I received from him was not very promising, but the second contained a specimen of Pipra opalizans. Before receiving this collection, I had a letter from Mr. Schulz with a list of its contents. He had tried to name his species after the descriptions in his hands, and I found the name of Pipra opalizans in his list. I confess I did not believe in the correctness of this identification, and was really surprised when, on opening the box, I found a true Pipra opalizans, which proved to be one of the finest and most singular birds which I ever had before my eyes. The bird obtained by Schulz is evidently a male, and is no doubt in perfect plumage. The upper parts, including I]ois,1898,Pl.II. W.Hart deletHtk PIPRA 0PA1.1ZANS. MinterrL Bro s inip . remarkable Birds from South America. CI wings and tail, are dark green, becoming lighter and brighter on the rnmp and upper tail-coverts. The throat, upper breast, and the sides of the body, the sides of the head, and a frontal line are of a lighter or more yellowish green. The belly and under tail-coverts are clear yellow. The head above is ornamented by a plaque composed of flat metallic feathers of unsurpassed beauty. Tiiey might be classed as being like mother-of-pearl with a glittering hue of opal (which peculiarity induced Natterer to call the species Pipra opalizans) , but at the same time may be observed a rich coruscation on it of the purest gold and silver. It is impossible to get an idea of the brightness of the cap of Pipra opalizans without having seen the bird, and I think it might well be called the finest bird in existence. It may be added that on the neck the metallic feathers of the cap become lengthened and pointed to the tip, and here they are somewhat expanded, forming a sort of crest. The upper mandible is plumbeous at the base, becoming Avhiter on the apical portion. The under mandible is white, legs and toes flesh-coloured. My specimen has the wings and tail in moult, and unfortunately, from an accident, has lost the tip of the upper mandible, therefore its measurements are not of much use. They are about as follows : long. tot. 95, al. 51, caud. 26, culm, about 9, tars. 13^ mm. As already pointed out by Johann Natterer, the nearest ally of Pipra opalizans is P. nattereri, Sol. ; but the latter species has the cap of the head pure white, and has a white rumpj which in P. opalizans is green like the back. My specimen, which I believe is novv the only one in exist- ence in any public or private collection, was obtained by Mr. Albert Scl.ulz near Ourem, on the Rio Guama, which joins the Amazons near Para, south-east of that city, on the 2nd February, 1894. The sex is labelled as '' $ juv. (?)," which is evidently an error, and there is a note on the back of the label that the sexual organs were undiscernible and that it was probably '' <^ ad." The iris is marked as pale yellow ['' hellgelb ''). 62 Hans, Graf von Berlepsch, on three Immediately on receiving this specimen, I wrote a letter to Mr. Scliulz asking him to collect more specimens of Pipra opa/hans, for which I offered him a good price; but he did not succeed in finding it again, and unfortunately, owing to bad health, he was obliged to return to Germany in 1895. 2. Idiopsar brachyurus. This curious bird was described by the late Mr. Cassin, in his " Study of the Icteridce " (Proc. Ac. N. Sc. Philad. 1866, p. 414), from a single specimen said to have been procured near La Paz in Bolivia by Mr. D. K. Cartter. Mr. Sclater, having examined the type belonging to the U.S. National Museum at Washington, pointed out (in an article in 'The Ibis,' 1884, p. 240), quite correctly, I think, that Idiopsar hracJiyurus is not an Icteriiie bird but a Finch, reminding one of Phrygilus unicolor by its style of coloration, but possessing quite an extraordinary bill for a Finch. Now I have great pleasure to announce that my collector, Herr Gustav Garlepp, with the aid of a copy of the figure in * The Ibis' for 1881, and having received special instructions from me to make every effort to find this bird, after having vainly searched, for it in the neighbourhood of La Paz, was at last so fortunate as to discover it at Iquico on the Illi- raani (4000 metres) in February 1895, and to find it again near llinconada, on the road over the Andes, also east of La Paz at the same altitude (4000 metres), in September 1896. Altogether, Mr. Garlepp has sent me twelve specimens, including adults of both sexes and a young bird, all of them being nearly alike in coloration. It may not be out of place to give here an abstract of Garlepp's letter relating to this important discovery, translated from the German original : — " Iquico, 20tli February, 1895. '^ After some delay, caused by our illness, and after a riding journey of two days (from La Paz), we at last remarkable Birds from South America. 63 arrived liere, which is a hacienda situated oil the north- eastern slope of the majestic Illirviaui. This was on the 14th of January. During the first eight or ten days my brother and I made some excursions up and down hill to reconnoitre the ground. The time was not good for collecting birds, most of them being moulting. Never- theless, of Aglaactis pamela, which was very common, we collected a large number, and I was very much pleased to find, at a great altitude near the line of eternal snow in com- pany with other Ground-Finches (such as Spodiornis jelskii, Diuca speculifera, etc.), the much sought-after Idiopsar brachyurus. I have, so far, shot only five specimens, and cannot yet say much about this curious bird. In these high regions, where it rains, hails, or snows twenty hours of the day, the vegetation is very scanty, and consists only of gramineous plants, and such herbs as can grow between the debris of rocks and blocks of stone. In such situations this bird searches after insects, and is sometimes to be seen sitting on the stones holding its long beak upward, which is a curious sight. The people of this country know the bird well, and call it ' Agusanieve,' which means that it searches after insects under the snow. I was told that in heavy snowfalls these birds cannot fly and are easily taken, by hand.^' In a later letter Mr. Garlejip says that he found the Idiopsar at different places on the Cordillera at the altitude of 14,000 feet, and that he now thinks it feeds exclusively on seeds. He also says that males and females are quite alike, and that he had prepared skeletons of two moulting specimens. As already said, I fully agree with Mr. Sclater that Idiopsar is not an Icterine bird, but a true Fringilline, perhaps most nearly related to Phrygilus or Diuca. It truly looks like Phrygilus unicolor with a much exaggerated and deformed bill. The males and females, as sexed by Garlepp, do not show any difference either in coloration or form ; it only appears that the older specimens have longer bills, which are more 61 Hans, Graf vou Berlepsch,^j three (M -^ to lO 05 o o CO CD -o <:5 Ci O) O) C5 C35 C/) CO 00 CO 00 r/) 1—1 '"' t— 1 ^-1 f— 1 »— 1 1— < ^' XI >-i >^' >*, Cf} K* HH '"' CM CI CO CD CD CD CD "t) Of ^3 •X5 0+ c. t) •Ti Ol- "TD CH- *u C5 O CD I^ OC' '^ -t -* CD CD !D c- remarkable Birds from South America. 65 compressed in the apical half, while younger specimens have the bill much shorter and comparatively thicker or more swollen^ with the culmen more rounded. The latter also have the plumage more or less soiled with brownish, while the adults are of a clearer slate or plumbeous grey above and of a purer ashy beneath; but on the whole the difference is only slight. It must be remembered that in all the allied Fringilline forms (sucli as Phrygilus, Spodiornis, and Haplospiza) the females differ widely from the males in their coloration, while in Diuca the difference between the sexes is but slight. It cannot be said that the figure in ' The Ibis ' is very correct, the bird there looking not at all like a Ground- Finch, which he really is j but, at all events, this figure aided Mr. Garlepp to find the bird in a totally difterent situation (on the ground), and I think this energetic traveller is much to be congratulated upon the rediscovery of one of the most singular South-American types, as Mr. Sclater has called it. I give measurements (p. 64) of the twelve specimens now before me. 3. Chrysolampis chlorol^mus. Lampornis calosoma, Elliot (1872). In his Catalogue of the Trochilidae of the British Museum (vol. xvi. p. 96), Mr. Osbert Salvin made a remark that " Graf H. v. Berlepsch has a specimen of this bird (viz. Lampornis calosotna) received direct from Bahia.^^ This is the case, whereas Mr. El^ot, when describing the species, believed it to be from somewhere in the West Indies. Perhaps some of my brother ornithologists may take an interest in the story of how I got my bird. Some years ago (in 1888) I was told that a merchant in a village called " Veckerhagen,^^ on the Weser, was anxious to dispose of a small lot of bird-skins which he had received from his son, who then was a clerk in a business at Bahia. I asked him to send me the lot, and found it contained bird-skins of bright colours of the usual Bahia make, viz. trade-skins SEK. VII. VOL. IV. y 66 On three remarkable Birds from South America. prepared for millinery purposes. There were some fifty Rhamphocelus brasilius, a number of Galbula rufoviridis, Pipra eri/ihrocephala, &cc., and a few Humming-birds, such as Lampornis nigrirollis, Petasophora serrirosiris, Agyrtria leucogastra, and a splendid specimen of Chrysolampis chloro- Icemus. The skin of this bird is quite of the same make as that of the others : viz., high breast, flat throat, tail- feathers spread out like a fan, and a slip of paper round the body. The young man who sent the birds from Bahia afterwards returned to Germany, and I spoke with him. He told me that he got all the skins from a dealer at Bahia, who used to prepare skins for millinery purposes. Consequently there cannot be the slightest doubt that Chrysolampis chlorolamus is really an inhabitant of the province of Bahia in Brazil. My specimen, which is evidently an old male in perfect plumage, measures : al. 60^, caud. 36, culm. 18J mm. I think that the correct name for this species is Chryso- lampis chlorohemus (Elliot). Regarding the generic name, I may remark that the silvery- greenish glittering head and neck, and the rufous middle tail-feathers, as well as the produced feathering from the front along the base of the upper mandible, are characters which associate it with Chrysolampis, while the longer bill and the serrated maxilla (as Salvin remarks) speak rather for Lampornis. It is in fact somewhat intermediate between Chrysolampis and Lampornis, but to my mind the characters of Chrysolampis prevail in it against those of Lampornis. About the specific name, I think there can be no doubt that chlorokemus of Mr, Elliot is the oldest. The name calosoma, proposed by Mr. Elliot two years later, must become a synonym. It is true that there was already an Eulampis chlorolcBmus, Gld., which by Cabanis and Heine was placed with Lampornis, but this fact does not justify us in withdrawing the specific name of chlorolcemus from our bird. Even if placed again in the genus Lampornis, this species ought to stand as Lampornis chlorolcema (Elliot). So far as I know, the original specimen in the American On Anatidae in the late Count Ninni's Collection. 67 Museum of New York, that in the British Museum (ex coll. Salvin and Godman), and my own are the only representa- tives of this rare Humming-bird in our collections of natural history. VI. — Notes on some Specimens of Anatidae in the late Count Ninni's Collection. By Prof. Ettore Arrigoni Degli ODDI. The much-lamented Count Alexander P. Ninni, a name dear to naturalists of every country, left his rich collections of natural history to the city of Venice, where they were consigned to the Correr Museum. The most remarkable part of them is the series of birds, which consists of about one thousand specimens, illustrative of the avifauna of the province of Venice. But several rare specimens have most unfortunately been lost through the carelessness of those to whom they were entrusted. Among these are an example of (Eclemia nigra, of which only the head is left, and an example of a cross between Anas boscas and Chaulela.wms streperus destroyed by moths. In fact it is OAving to the inde- fatigable activity and intelligence of my friend Prof. Joseph Scarpa, appointed by the city of Venice to put the collections into order, that they have escaped further loss. The greater number of the specimens in this collection are unfortunately without date and locality. It is, however, certain that they were all obtained in the Venetian estuary and the adjoining seas within the last few years. Count Ninni had many correspondents who brought him everything interesting they met with, among whom I may mention Giovanni Minotto, a pi'eparator and punt-gunner. Although not gifted with knowledge acquired from books, Minotto is endowed with great natural ability, and was a coadjutor of Count Ninnies of no little importance, and since the latter's death he has been very useful to me in collecting and mounting birds for my museum. The Anatidse, consisting of about one hundred specimens, are the most largely represented family in the collection, and f2 68 Prof. E. Arrigoni Degli oddi on Anatidae I think it convenient to take this group into consideration first. 1. Tadorna cornuta. (Venetian name '' Cherso.") A rare species in the Venetian estuary, where it generally appears at the time of migration in winter, but it has also been seen in the months of July and August. Formerly it was more common. 2. Anas boscas. (Venetian name " Mazzorin" ^, " Anara" ? .) The Mallard is common in Venetian territory, where it is also a resident, but the number increases wonderfully in winter on account of the large flocks from the north, which arrive in the month of November and leave in February. It breeds commonly in our regions, but formerly its breeding- places were much more numerous. In August many adult males are killed, and this is the time of its moulting-plumage; one in this condition of plumage is in the collection, but such specimens are rare in our Italian museums. 3. Mareca PENELOPE. (Venetian name " Ciosso" c?, '' Ciossa" ? .) The Wigeon is the most common of the Ducks that frequent the estuary. It is an autumn bird, passing between August 20th and November 20tb, and returning between March 2nd and April 30th. Sometimes we see large flocks of Wigeon in the lagoons, principally composed of young birds in their flrst nuptial dress. They are commonly called Ciossi di baro, the baro being the Zostera marina, a seaweed on which they feed. This bird very seldom breeds in this country. 4. Dafila acuta. (Venetian name "Asia " ^ , "Asiada" ? , " Colanzi") The Pintail is a common species in the Venetian territory as an autumn bird, passing between August 15th and Sep- tember 30th, and between March 15th and April 30th. It is also sometimes seen in May, but seldom. Naccari, in his 'Ornitologia Veneta/ states that this species breeds in our district, but this is doubtful. in the late Count Ninni's Collection. 69 5. FuLiGULA RUFiNA. (Venetian name " Ciosso turco.") The Red-crested Pochard is a rare bird which appears in Venetia in November and in the mouths of March and April. It frequents large spaces of water in the lagoons and sea. Some are killed every year. I have three in my collection, and every Venetian museum has specimens obtained in these regions. Even while I am writing (April), I have heard of a specimen having been lately caught in the estuary. It has been stuffed by G. Minotto, who was my informant, and is now in the possession of Mr. G. Voltolina at Chioggia. 6. FuLiGULA MARiLA. (Venetian names " Magasso de la schena zenai'ina," " Moreton.'') The Scaup is neither common nor very rare ; it appears at the time of migration and in winter. I have killed several individuals, and have some twenty specimens in my col- lection. It frequents large expanses of water, and prefers the deep places where seaweeds abound. It lives in flocks along with the Common Pochard and Tufted Duck. 7. FuLiGULA FERiNA. (Venetian name " Magasson,'" " Magasson dal fero," " Magasson monaro.''') The Common Pochard is more abundant than the Tufted Duck in this country; it appears towards the 15th of Sep- tember, but I have killed specimens in August. The birds that remain with us during the winter depart in February, at which time immigrants arrive; the latter occasionally defer their departure from onr waters till April. Sometimes the Venetian lagoons are frequented by immense quantities of Pochards. They live in flocks on the large and deep ex- panses of water where seaweeds and vegetation of all kinds abound. The cold and ice do not affect them, but they leave us as soon as the warm weather comes on. Like other Ducks, they are an object of active and profitable pursuit, but their flesh is not delicate. This species does not breed with us. 8. CEdemia fusca. (Venetian name '' Oreo marin.") The Velvet Scoter, as Count Ninni says ^, is certainly less * Atti R. 1st. Ven. ser. 6, t. iii. p. 223 (1885). 70 Prof. E, Arrigoui Degli oddi on Anatidse common than the Gadwall and Ferruginous Duck, but it appears every year in our lagoons and especially in the sea, more frequently than the Common Sheld-duck and the Goosander. It is seen in autumn and in winter. It begins to arrive in October — the several specimens in my collection were killed between October and January, — but Count Contarini * says that individuals have been killed in April and May. As a young bird the Velvet Scoter is not very uncommon, but males in full plumage are rare, and I do not possess a specimen of the latter in my collection. Count Ninni calculated that in 1885 no less than fifty of these birds were obtained in this country ; but if the calculation was correct at that time it certainly is not now, and the species has become much less frequent. 9. CEdemia nigra. (Venetian name " Orcheto marin.") Count Ninni f did not hesitate to say that the Common Scoter is a rare bird in the Venetian province, and in fact it appears very seldom and quite as a straggler among us. It has been seen in winter between October and April. Count Contarini says J that individuals have been killed in May, but there is no proof that this assertion is correct. Count Ninni procured two in 1884 [in lift.), and probably the head in his collection belonged to one of them. After that date an adult male in full breeding-plumage was killed on the Lago di Garda near Pacengo on April 7th, 1888 ; this was stuflFed by V. Dal Nero and is now in the possession of Count Fratta at Lasiza. In 1885 G. Minotto killed three specimens in November on our lagoons, two of which, a young male and an adult female, came into my possession ; the third — a young bird — is in the Museo Scarpa at Treviso. Three other specimens were seen between the 14th and 22nd of October of the same year in the lagoons at " Sette Morti " and in the sea near S. Elisabetta de Lido, but it was not possible to get near * ' Venezia e le sue lagune,' vol. ii. p. 222 (1847). t Prov. d. Venezia, Monogr. st. econ. anim., etc. del Conte Sormani Moretti, Venezia, 1880-81. X L. c. p. 196. in the late Count NinnVs Collection. 71 them on account of the rough weather. These are the only- authentic captures of this Duck that I know of in the Venetian region. The Common Scoter is one of the rarest Italian species ; in the province of Cremona it has perhaps occurred more frequently, and within the last few days Mr. Ferragne has informed me that, where the river Adda flows into the POj he met with two specimens — a male and a female — on the 9th of April, which he was unable to get at, but which were subsequently killed by a punt-gunner, who brought them to him to be stufPed. These two specimens are now in my collection. 10. Harelua glacialis. (Venetian name " Orcheto marin," '' Anara da la coa long a. ''''). This species in young plumage is not very rare in the Venetian estuary, but adults, especially males * in full winter-plumage and in spring nuptial dress, are seldom seen, though they occur at times. The species is more often met with in the very cold weather, when it frequents the sea and open lagoons rather than the " valli." I have in my collection fourteen specimens taken on our coasts between October and January, among which are two magnificent males in full plumage. It has more commonly been killed in October than during migration in the spring. In 1887 there was an extraordinary flight of this species in the Venetian estuary during the months of October and November, more than one hundred specimens being captured ; but after that period few were observed. I have occasionally seen some Long-tailed Ducks on our lagoons. They are not very shy and are easily approached. They often dive and reappear on the surface of the water at no great distance ; if closely pursued they take to flight, but soon rest again on the water. They can remain under water for a long time, much longer than the Goldeneye, and almost as long as the Grebes and Divers. Their flight is very rapid and sinuous, and they * The last adult male of which I know was killed on the lagoou on the 13th December last and taken to Count Eniile Ninni, the son of Count Alexander. The former stuffed the bird himself, and it is now in his collection at Venice. 72 Prof. E. Arrigoni Degli oddi on Anatidfe often flap their short wings and alter their direction by turning their bodies from side to side. While swimming they continually fish, and prefer to stay where the water is the deepest and where the flow is the most rapid. They feed on small fishes and on seaweeds, such as Zostera marina, Z. nana, and Ruppia maritima, 11. SOMATEIIIA MOLLISSIMA. Only two specimens of the Eider Duck have been obtained in the Venetian estuary — namely, a male and a female by Count Ninni in 1882. The former was killed at the mouth of the port of Tre Porti on the 1st October, and the latter in the lagoon on the 20th November. Some days after, i. e. December 25th, a third was seen in company with several Velvet Scoters. The Common Eider is a straggler and rarely seen in the Venetian or any other part of the Italian dominions. It has appeared between October and April, and generally in young- plumage. The specimens in Count Camozzi's collection at Bergamo, and Dal Flume's collection at Badia Polesina, labelled as coming from Venice and Lecco respectively, cannot positively be said to have been obtained in Italy. The Eider is exclusively a shore-bird, and very seldom forsakes the sea-coast in its migrations. 12. SOMATERIA SPECTABILIS. The splendid specimen of the King-Eider in Count Ninni's collection is, so far as I know, the only one that has been killed in Italy. It was obtained on the 21st August, 1888, at the " Pignatelle "*, by the punt-gunner G. Minotto. The stomach was full of remains of crabs [Carcinus mcBnas). Minotto observed that the bird was not at all shy, and that to feed it dived and reappeared on the surface of the water after a somewhat long interval, after the manner of the Goldeneye. The sternum, with the trachea, of this bird was given by Count Ninni to the Museum at Florence. Count Ninni and the well-known authority Prof. Gigliolif believe that the specimen is a * Ninni, Boll. Nat. viii. p. 137 (1888). t Cf. Avif. Ital. i. p. 493 (1889). in the late Count Ninni's Collection. 73 young male, but I am inclined to think that it is an adult male in moulting-dress, on account of the considerable development of the shields at the base of the bill. The most southern specimen of the King-Eider previously killed in Europe appears to be that obtained near Boulogne, and mentioned by Degland and Gerbe^. The species is rare even in England and Scandinavia, and from what authors say it seems to be altogether an Arctic bird. 13. Erismatura leucocephala. (Venetian name " Ma- gasseto foresto.") The White-headed Duck is very rare in the Venetian estuary; it appears in winter and at the periods of migration, but always as a straggler. I procured one from the territory of Padua on the 25th February, 1884, and two on the 25th February, 1896, which were killed in the estuary in the channel of ''Piove,^^ opposite my hunting-quarters in the '' Valle Zappa,^^ by the gamekeeper C. Framonte. The last- named specimens (male and female) are both very fine ; they have been stuffed by Mr. H. Bonomi, of Milan, and are now in my collection, along with a specimen obtained in 1884 and with others from Sardinia. This sj)ecies is not generally distributed over Italy ; it is often met with in Sicily and Sardinia, where it breeds, and where it seems to be a resident as well as a migrant ; it is also seen in the great marshes of the Capitanata and in the salt-lagoons of Barletta, where it most probably breeds, but this cannot be stated with certainty. In many other parts of Italy it is a very rare bird, and the further north we go the more it becomes simply a straggler. 14. Mergus merganser. (A^enetian name " Serolon de Po,^' '^ Serolon oca.") The Goosander is a rare bird in the Venetian lagoon, and is not met with every year. Young specimens are the most common. It prefers the sea and open lagoon, where the water is deep, and is most frequently seen between the months of October and December, but it occurs sometimes * Orn. Eur. ed. 2, ii. p. 559 (1867). 74 Mr. B. Alexander — Expedition after this period. Mr. V. Dal Nero^ a keen observer, writes to me that a male in nuptial plumage was caught on the 16th May, 1887, on the Lake of Garda, and was stuffed by him. I have in my possession a male and a female killed in this country in October and November, and the last specimen obtained in our neighbourhood was on the 19th March, 1895. This is an adult male, stuffed by G. Minotto, and is now in a private collection in Venice. VII. — An Ornithological Expedition to the Cape Verde Islands. By Boyd Alexander. (Plate III.) Contents. I. Introduction 74 II. Santiago 76 III. List of the Birds of Santiago 79 IV. Brava 90 V. List of the Birds of Brava 90 VI. The Rombos Islands 94 VII. List of the Birds of the Rombos Islands 97 Vm. List of the Birds of Sao Vicente 99 IX. Sao Nicolau 100 X. List of the Birds of Sao Nicolau 103 XL The Desertas 105 XII. List of the Birds of Raza 107 XIII. Branca, Santa Luzia, Sal, and Boavista 109 XIV. List of the Birds of Boavista Ill XV. Complete List of the Birds of the Cape Vei-de Islands .... 114 I. Introduction. Although Dr. Dohrn and Mr. Keulemans have recorded the results of their observations from the Cape Verde Islands in the ' Journal fiir Ornithologie ■" for 1871, it has long been felt, among those interested in the African Avifauna, that a further and more systematic working of the Islands would reveal many interesting facts. With this object in view, I left Liverpool on February 28th, 1897, for Sao Vicente, accompanied by a friend, Mr. John Duncan, and two skinners (Ramm of Cley, and Griffin of Tunbridge Wells). to the Cape Verde Islands. 75 During the voyage, besides numbers of Herring- and Lesser Black-backed Gulls that followed the vessel whenever we neared land, we noticed on approaching Vigo, off the Spanish coast, large parties of Guillemots and Razorbills on the way northward to breed, and from Vigo down to Lisbon a considerable number of Gannets. At Lisbon, close to the quay, I observed an example of Larus melanocephalus, with the black hood almost assumed. 1 ^ '"' 'lA' 'zz ^-^^ SANTO ANTAO SAO Kr-^